New design guidelines forging a nature-based Hong Kong

Building climate resilience through nature

Climate change and biodiversity loss are two sides of the same coin. Rising temperatures threaten ecosystems, weakening nature’s ability to regulate climate and protect us.

Hong Kong is a dense, coastal city facing stronger storms and increasing heat stress. Yet it is also a place with approximately 40 percent of its land designated as country parks, sustaining rich biodiversity. The city needs a cohesive approach to strengthen its ecological resilience.

Despite growing global momentum for nature-based solutions (NbS), Hong Kong lacked tailored design guidelines for its unique urban and ecological context. To close this gap and help mainstream NbS in public works and infrastructure, we served as consultants in developing the “Hong Kong Nature-based Solutions Design Guidelines” (HKNbSDG) for the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) of the HKSAR Government.

Image source: Hong Kong Nature-based Solutions Design Guidelines developed by CEDD and AFCD

A framework for local action

At its core, the HKNbSDG is a roadmap for integrating nature into Hong Kong’s built and natural environments. It translates global NbS principles into a practical framework, integrating geographical, environmental, cultural and socio-economic considerations. It shows how NbS can tackle climate challenges while enhancing biodiversity and improving daily life.

Developed by a multidisciplinary team of planners, ecologists, engineers, landscape architects and sustainability experts, the guidelines:

• Highlight how NbS delivers benefits for both biodiversity and society
• Identify key design characteristics that build ecological and climate resilience
• Demonstrate how NbS principles can be applied to Hong Kong’s built and natural environments

The framework is designed for a wide range of users, from government departments, private developers to researchers, scientists and NGOs, helping them address key societal challenges while benefitting both people and nature.

Guiding principles with examples across different environments

Rooted in science and best practices, the HKNbSDG sets out nine design guidelines under three core principles:

• Core principle 1: Promoting ecosystem diversity at multiple scales
• Core principle 2: Embracing human–nature coexistence for mutual benefits
• Core principle 3: Improving resilience through nature-based solutions

These principles can be applied across a range of environments where nature conservation or landscaping works are typically undertaken, showing how NbS can complement both natural and built landscapes:

1. Countryside and rural environments
2. Rivers and drainage systems
3. Marine environments and coastlines
4. Man-made and natural terrains
5. Urban open spaces
6. Built environments

This adaptable framework is already being validated through successful local case studies, including Long Valley Nature Park and Tung Chung East Eco-shoreline.

Towards a resilient, nature-based future

The HKNbSDG is more than a technical guide — it is a catalyst for a resilient Hong Kong. It provides the foundation for major initiatives like the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy, ensuring NbS drive urban rural integration where development and conservation co-exist.

By localizing global best practices, the guidelines assist users in planning and designing NbS projects, while fostering cross-sector collaboration needed to tackle Hong Kong’s most pressing societal challenges.

Explore the full Hong Kong Nature-based Solutions Design Guidelines.