About the Programme

Experiencing Urban Biodiversity @Lake Ad Excellentiam is a community project, sponsored by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, whose aim is to promote nature exploration and appreciation of local urban biodiversity through interactive activities around Lake Ad Excellentiam at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). The programme includes this virtual learning portal and a series of workshops and outdoors activities.

Virtual Learning Portal Guide

‘Interactive Map’: Discover Lake Ad Excellentiam’s biodiversity.

‘Sharing Corner’: Share with us your urban biodiversity experience in daily life. Your experience will be posted here to encourage others to appreciate nature.

‘Resources Download’: Available for download are:

  • A bespoke identification chart (ID chart) of the flora and fauna commonly found in the urban areas of Hong Kong
  • Activity worksheets on urban biodiversity

About CUHK's Lake Ad Excellentiam

CUHK is home to over 200 plant species and over a third of all tree species found in Hong Kong. Like many other places in Hong Kong, a lot of the vegetation cover in CUHK was removed in past decades, making the hilly landscape barren. Thanks to recent efforts to reforest the campus, Lake Ad Excellentiam’s various landscapes of lawns, tree canopies and ponds can now provide abundant food supply and shelter for various animals and insects.
Located within a five-minute walk from University Station and adjacent to buildings, Lake Ad Excellentiam perfectly demonstrates how artificial habitats, such as urban parks and gardens, can serve as wildlife habitats in the urban area.

Let’s explore the biodiversity and beauty of CUHK’s Lake Ad Excellentiam

Objectives

  • To promote public awareness and knowledge of the urban biodiversity of Hong Kong through interactive activities that use the participants’ five senses
  • To encourage the public, especially young children, to explore nature and appreciate our local biodiversity
  • To engage the public in efforts to conserve biodiversity
  • To nurture university students to become biodiversity ambassadors and empower them to transfer their knowledge and appreciation of nature to the public

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Junior Biodiversity Explorers—Experiencing Nature with the Five Senses

The experiential programme will be held at CUHK’s Lake Ad Excellentiam to allow visitors, especially children, to explore the natural environment with their five senses: observing, touching, smelling, hearing and tasting.



The three-hour programme includes the following activities:
  1. Pre-tour Workshop Learn about the types and features of urban biodiversity of Hong Kong and the classification of organisms. Get ready for the visit to the lake.
  2. Site Visit Grab an ‘Explorer Toolkit’ and join this game-based interactive exploration to learn about the relationships among urban biodiversity, natural resources and humans!
  3. Sustainability Workshop Repurpose withered plants to produce simple everyday DIY products, such as anti-mosquito cream and flower-pounding products.

Application Details and Registration

Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials or the event do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.