The Development Bureau announced the establishment of the new Urban Forestry Advisory Panel (UFAP) today (January 3).

     The panel comprises a diversity of local and overseas expertise including urban forestry managers, urban arborists, urban and restoration ecologists, forest pathologists, a soil scientist, landscape architects, horticulturalists and a geotechnical engineer.

     The Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, said that the inter-disciplinary panel reflects a more holistic approach to the strategies and polices associated with urban forestry in addition to the previous focus on urban tree management.

     "This composition will offer fresh perspectives and in-depth professional experiences and insights on urban forestry from policy to implementation. Advice will be drawn from their collective network to bring international and regional knowledge for local applications," Mr Chan said.

     With the new UFAP covering urban tree management amongst other things, the work of the Expert Panel on Tree Management is included under the UFAP after its term expired at the end of 2016.

     The new UFAP will advise the Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section of the Development Bureau on a wide range of urban forestry matters beyond the details of tree management including:

- strategies in relation to urban forestry encompassing urban arboriculture, urban ecology and urban landscapes;
- an urban forestry applied research and development regime within a practical and measurable framework; and
- policies and measures concerning the promotion of positive capacity building on the urban forestry related industries and trades.

     Following is the membership of the UFAP commencing January 1, 2017, for a term of two years:
 
Chairman
Head of Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section, Development Bureau
 
Non-official members          
Dr Paul Barber                      
Dr Philip G Cannon     
Mr Chan Yun-cheung      
Professor Chau Kwai-cheong   
Ms Cecilia Cheung So-mui       
Mr Kingsley Choi Lim-cho   
Mr Mark Duntemann     
Mr Kevin Eckert     
Dr Billy Hau Chi-hing    
Mr Evans Iu Po-lung                     
Professor Cecil Konijnendijk    
Mr Patrick Lau Hing-tat  
Dr David Lau Tai-wai    
Mr Frank Rinn   
Mr Ian Shears     
Dr Wong Fook-yee    
Professor Xing Fuwu   
Professor Zhang Qixiang 
 
Official members
Head of Tree Management Office, Development Bureau
Chief Leisure Manager (Passive Amenities), Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Senior Conservation Officer/Technical Services, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
Senior Landscape Architect/District (Urban), Highways Department
 

Ends/Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:00

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