The Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department (AFCD) has been developing the Hong Kong Biodiversity Information Hub (HKBIH), which launched last year, to share data and educate the public about the region’s rich flora and fauna. This interactive website includes species databases and information on educational activities directed to the people of Hong Kong.
SWIMS’ research activities, such as MarineGEO Hong Kong and the Ting Kok+ Project, regularly lead to species occurrence data and photos as well as other many facts pertaining to animal physiology, habitat preference and species ranges for Hong Kong’s marine organisms.
Assistant Director (Conservation) of the AFCD, Mr. Simon Chan (left); Director of SWIMS, Professor Gray Williams (right); Photo: AFCD
On 17 January 2023, SWIMS joined AFCD to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will allow SWIMS to share data with AFCD that will be disseminated via the Biodiversity Geographic Information System (BGIS) expected to be launched in 2024 as part and parcel of the HKBIH. This collaborative outreach effort was celebrated in a signing ceremony with staff from AFCD and SWIMS. This collaboration is great chance to share the importance of Hong Kong’s biodiversity with the people of Hong Kong.