The Macau Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) noted in a statement on Tuesday that the bureau’s forest restoration work is being carried out on both sides of Estrada Militar in Coloane and the southern side of Hac Sa Reservoir as well as the Hac Sa Long Chao Kok Coastal Trail, with a total area of 35 hectares, reminding the public that part of the area will be sealed off during the project.
The bureau pointed out that many of Macau’s forests have been harmed by lianas seriously endangering the growth of other plants, causing the gradual loss of ecological functions in the forested areas and affecting the sustainable development of biodiversity.
The bureau underlined that it follows particular steps when carrying out forest ecological restoration projects, including retaining original trees, removing dead trees and invasive exotic vines, fertilising and backfilling, as well as disinfecting and planting seedlings.
Apart from forest fire prevention, according to the statement, the bureau is also carrying out climbing plant and pest control measures, adding that once pests such as Mikania micrantha, kudzu, red imported fire ants and termites are found, IAM workers will eliminate them in time.
The statement noted that in order to restore the forest ecological environment as soon as possible, the bureau commissioned an expert team from Sun Yat-sen University to conduct an investigation in 2018, supported by the Guangdong Forestry Administration, adding that an expert group of the Guangdong Academy of Forestry is tasked with carrying out the ecological forest restoration and optimisation design project, which was completed in 2020, with a total area of 40 hectares restored and more than 40,000 seedlings planted with a high survival rate and good growth.
The bureau asked members of the public for cooperation and called on hillwalkers not to destroy the support of seedlings so that the planted saplings can adapt to the forest as soon as possible.
This undated handout photo provided by the Macau Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) on Tuesday shows climbing plants affecting trees in Coloane.
