The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) said in a recent statement that it is conducting woodland restoration work such as the removal of different vine species that affect trees’ normal growth and natural woodland regeneration, dead trees and domestic waste from Guia Hill to maintain its woodlands.
According to the statement, typhoons in recent years have caused “serious damage” to Macau’s hilly woodlands and accelerated the growth of vines, covering them in large areas. This affects the trees’ normal growth and makes natural woodland regeneration “impossible”, the statement noted.
The bureau has been carrying out works such as the removal of Hypserpa nitida, kudzu vine, love-vine and invasive alien species such as railway creeper and bitter vine. Preliminary tree planting work will be conducted depending on Guia Hill’s surrounding woodland’s conditions after removing the vines, the statement pointed out.
Meanwhile, the bureau underlined that a healthy woodland habitat endowed with biodiversity should comprise “distinct layers of herbs, shrubs, and trees”, but many seemingly lush hills in Macau have been harmed by vines in recent years.
The bureau said that it continues to conduct maintenance and vine removal works in various districts’ woodlands to prevent the affected woodland areas from losing their ecological functions, with work having been done on Taipa Grande, Taipa Pequena, Coloane Trail, Óscar Trail, Ká Hó Height Barbecue Park, and the hilly woodlands near Hác Sá Settlement.
Moreover, the statement noted that the bureau plans to carry out the hilly woodland restoration’s fourth phase in five locations in three areas such as Guia Hill in Macau, north of Monte de Ká Hó/south of Estrada do Altinho de Ká Hó and Alto de Coloane in Coloane, occupying a total of 35 hectares.
The statement added that in the areas, based on their current conditions and geographical features, three types of dedicated restoration zones are planned: ecology, coastal protection, and woodland restoration. Preliminary forestation operations in each area include the preservation of existing trees and the removal of vines, dead and dangerous trees and invasive alien plants, among others.
This undated handout photo provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) earlier this month shows a worker removing vines from Guia Hill to maintain its woodlands.
