EVALUATION AND PRESERVATION OF CHAMPION TREES IN URBAN HONG KONG

Summary The rapid rate of development and redevelopment in urban Hong Kong in recent years had extensively damaged or destroyed existing trees. The present legislation and enforcement measures are inadequate to protect natural features in the city. An attempt to identify and characterize the most outstanding specimens of the urban tree population hopefully could provide the baseline for their proper preservation. Some 288 exceptionally large and beautiful specimens in the older core urban areas of Hong Kong, belonging to 66 species, had been identified in a city-wide survey. Each target was studied in detail in the field with respect to 30 attributes related to species characteristics, tree dimension, structure, condition, location, and special botanical features. A semi-quantitative scoring scheme with a view to minimizing subjectivity has been designed for the evaluation. A formula is proposed to calculate an overall numerical score for individual trees. The species composition and diversity, geographical origin and cultivation history are discussed. The spatial distribution of the specimens, their tree structure and performance are evaluated. The management implications with special reference to the preservation and enhancement of the champion-tree stock are elaborated.