Short-term (2 to 4 weeks) "agriculture" project in Hong Kong

This is a pilot project newly organized with the Conservancy Association (CA). CA is a non-government environmental organization with the longest history in Hong Kong. A nature conservation management project for Long Valley has been organized since 2005, which aims to conserve Long Valley’s landscape and biodiversity through a series of active habitat and species management measures. Long Valley is a historical site of paddy rice production in Hong Kong with hundreds of years of history and its ecological value is closely related to its agriculture. However, many farmlands have been abandoned due to aging farming population, insufficient labour and low financial return. Sustaining the local agriculture has a vital role to conserve local biodiversity and farming tradition. In this connection, CA has initiated to engage the local stakeholders to resume freshwater habitats and sustain wet farmlands, for example reintroducing paddy rice cultivation, Chinese arrowheads, water chestnut, lotus, etc.

- Sustain the eco-paddy rice farming in Long Valley to support wildlife and local farmers’ living.
- Setup and decorate the farming corner and farming hut where will be a focal point in Long Valley to provide public environmental education in the future.
- Learn and appreciate the importance of local agriculture and its relationship with ecology.

Harvesting and packaging of the eco-paddy rice under the nature conservation management project for public promotion and education.
Setting up of the small educational farming station and corner for farming and ecology education in the future.
Wall painting and decoration of the farming hut to beautify the volunteers’ living environment.

Volunteers will stay in CA’s farming hut in a peaceful, simple rural living style. It is located within an important farming wetland in Hong Kong. Male and female volunteers will share the same living area and there is no partition in the accommodation space. Volunteers are required to bring their sleeping bags. Toilet, tap water, electricity, refrigerator, and fans will be provided at the farming hut.

Long Valley is located at the northern urban edge of Hong Kong, China. With a total area of 150 hectares, it is the largest agricultural freshwater wetland in Hong Kong. It is composed of more than 400 linking farmlands with wetland farms, fish ponds and swamps which provide ideal habitats for local wildlife. More than 200 bird species, including a range of conservation concern species, have been recorded at this tiny piece of land. The diverse habitats provide a suitable wintering site for numerous migrating birds in winter. The high ecological value of Long Valley is well-recognized in both local and global scales.

Hong Kong International Airport

Volunteers with farming and art working experience (e.g. scarecrow making, straw weaving, etc.) are welcome.

1. Volunteers are responsible for carrying out the daily work by turns, such as cooking and cleaning work.
2. All meals during the workcamp will be “low carbon meals”. “Dark meat” will not be served. Volunteers can collect fresh vegetables and fish from different farms in Long Valley or buy food from local market for cooking.
3. July to August is the hottest and wettest period in Hong Kong. The average temperature ranges from 27℃ to 32℃ but higher temperature is expected in Long Valley. Thunderstorms are sometimes frequent. Volunteers may need to work under hot and rainy weather with due consideration of personal safety.
4. No cleaning chemicals, such as artificial cleaning detergent or soap, are allowed to be used in the workcamp site in order to prevent pollution. Natural detergent, like tea seed powder, will be provided.
5. Smoking and alcohol are not allowed within the farming area of Long Valley, including both indoor and outdoor space.

The Conservancy Association, founded in 1968, is the non-government environmental organization with the longest history in Hong Kong. As a champion of sustainable development, we are dedicated to the protection of the environment and the conservation of natural and cultural heritage. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of both this and future generations, and to ensure that Hong Kong shoulders her regional and global environmental responsibilities. We achieve this by advocating appropriate policies, monitoring government action, promoting environmental education and taking a lead in community participation. Since the establishment of the Association, we have been devoted to monitoring government environmental policies and promoting environmental education. Official Website: http://www.cahk.org.hk