Location: Hong Kong
Clients:
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of the HKSAR Government
Civil Engineering and Development Department of the HKSAR Government
Project overview
Long Valley Nature Park (LVNP), situated in the Kwu Tung North and Fanling North areas of Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis, is a key initiative that brings together wetland conservation, sustainable farming, and nature education to support urban-rural integration. Historically, the area was fragmented by private land ownership, limiting conservation efforts. Meanwhile, some farmlands were left abandoned or planted with species that degraded the wetland habitats.
The site is ecologically significant, being a mosaic of wet and dry agricultural land, marshes, ponds and channels that together form the largest freshwater wetland in Hong Kong, supporting significant biodiversity resources. Restoration and management efforts aim to improve habitat quality and support eco-agriculture. AECOM was engaged due to the project’s complexity and the need for integrated expertise in ecology, water quality, landscape design and construction.
Our services has transformed Long Valley into a resilient, high-performing ecosystem that now attracts a growing abundance and number of bird species, enhancing the site’s ecological and social values and contributing to regional conservation goals.
To see the park’s broader community features and sustainable design elements, visit the Long Valley Nature Park project page.
#Nature+inAction
Overall bird abundance has increased by approximately 20 to 40 percent across seasons, with substantial growth observed in Buntings and Black‑winged Stilts.*
The site produced the first significant records of Hong Kong’s Latham’s Snipe and Long Valley’s Lapland Longspur, together with a new dragonfly species, Tramea basilaris.*
The wetland area has been enlarged by about 21 hectares.
Irrigation water from Sheung Yue River was naturally enhanced through a treatment wetland system comprising a sedimentation pond, a macrophyte zone and an open water zone.
What makes this project nature-positive?
- Measurable gains in biodiversity performance provides a key reference point for future environmental planning across the broader Northern Metropolis development
- Winner of the NEC Martin Barnes Awards 2024 for demonstrating carbon dioxide reduction initiatives toward net-zero
- Engagement with multiple key stakeholders facilitated sustainable agricultural production, eco-education and nature-based tourism
Our Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Design Principles in action
Foundation 1: Maximizing structural diversity (physical complexity) of an ecosystem
To strengthen biodiversity and ecological function, our design enhances structural diversity at multiple scales.
- Macro scale: We analyzed ecological baselines locally and regionally to guide habitat connectivity across Deep Bay. This informed the creation of a rich mosaic of wetlands — from shallow ponds and marshes to wet and dry agricultural land.
- Meso scale: Habitat types were tailored to support wetland‑dependent species such as waterbirds, amphibians and insects, using native vegetation and optimum water depths.
- Micro scale: Nature‑inspired features like gabion walls and wildlife‑friendly structures in irrigation channels add surface complexity, offer refuge for herpetofauna and promote vegetation growth.
This layered approach creates a physically complex environment that sustains long‑term ecological health and species richness.
Foundation 2: Delivering symbiotic built and natural environments
Our design integrates ecological systems with community and agricultural needs, providing a broad range of ecosystem services that benefit both people and nature.
Restored farmland supports seasonal crop production — with harvests donated locally since 2021 — while government‑led eco‑tours and educational activities have engaged more than 5,000 visitors as of late 2024.
The park’s zoning plan balances biodiversity protection with public enjoyment through three areas:
- Biodiversity Zone — restored wetlands for wildlife habitat
- Agriculture Zone — eco‑friendly farming and local food production
- Visitor Zone — spaces for learning and recreation
This spatial design allows built and natural environments to support one another, ensuring sustainable use and long‑term landscape harmony.
Foundation 3: Embedding resilience functions
Resilience sits at the heart of our NbS approach — helping ecosystems adapt to environmental and social change.
By improving habitat connectivity, LVNP contributes to the wider Northern Metropolis Wetland Conservation Park System, strengthening ecological resilience across the region.
Extended irrigation channels and a natural filtration sequence — sedimentation ponds, a vegetated macrophyte zone and open water areas — ensure wetlands are maintained year‑round and water quality remains high.
Socio‑economic resilience is reinforced through reactivated farmland, partnerships with eco‑farmers, and Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) facilities that reduce cost and environmental impact.
A framework for sustainable coexistence
Long Valley’s transformation offers a blueprint for how conservation and development can look across Hong Kong’s diverse ecosystems. Nature-based solutions, supported by community and government engagement, enable us to deliver both ecological and societal benefits, and demonstrate how progress and nature can not only coexist but mutually reinforce one another.
*Source: Hong Kong Bird Watching Society
Photo credit: Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Civil Engineering and Development Department
Learn more from our nature-positive experts
Design Principles for High-performance Ecosystems
This document discusses how to plan and design high-performance ecosystems. By enabling high-performance, we can enhance the environmental benefits of all projects, whether they involve infrastructure systems in urban centers or natural habitats in the hinterlands.
The Natural Capital Manifesto
The Natural Capital Manifesto, inspired by AECOM’s recent project in Bintan, highlights the need for ‘nature-positive’ corporate goals and stresses the importance of data monitoring and natural capital quantification for sustainable opportunities.
Press release
AECOM supports CEDD and AFCD of HKSAR Government in launching Hong Kong’s first comprehensive nature-based solutions guidelines.