Ma Si 

works in in the field of environmental conservation. His works include environmental survey, wildlife photography and documentation. Ma Si is also a columnist on Greenpeace Hong Kong, focusing on Hong Kong ecology and agricultural ecology. He is also a permaculture teacher in Hong Kong.

1/ Why do you decide to work in the field of environmental conservation?

I like nature, plants and animals. After graduate, I worked in the Kadoorie farm and have learnt a lot on environmental protection with the ecological experts there.

2/ What is your view towards biodiversity in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong has very clear seasons change. Every season we have different scenic views to see.


Biodiversity doesn’t only mean counting how many species we have, but where can we observe them.


For example, there are lots of cotton trees (木棉) blossom in spring Hong Kong. The flowers can attract a lot of nectar-feeding birds. These birds are usually quite pretty, but we cannot see them in autumn, as they may move to somewhere already to search for food.


In Hong Kong, each season we have different kinds of birds. Our natural landscape is also changing by seasons.


Ecologists do not only concern about what species we can see, but in which context, in which season and what do the animals do. All these are important aspects in understanding our ecosystem.

 

3/ You have mentioned that there are many different species in Hong Kong. In our urban environment, can we also observe such biodiversity?

Yes, it is also easy to see biodiversity in urban area. 


In the city, we have some large and historical park, where there are many old trees. The birds can stay in those trees and have food from the fruits and flowers.


In different seasons, different birds are staying in our large urban parks.

4/ Do we need biodiversity in urban areas?

In my opinion, it is necessary. Referring to traditional Chinese culture, an ideal life style is always related to and surrounded by nature. This ideal life can only be achieved by a rich biodiversity.

In traditional Chinese landscape painting, it is not only about plants and animals but how human, plants and animals are living in harmony together.


If we want to have a nice lifestyle, besides focusing on our dwellings, our surrounding area should have enough greenery where we can enjoy nature.


 

5/ What are the common plants and animals in our urban area which worth our attention?

In spring time, I will suggest Flame Tree/ Delonix regia (鳳凰木). It will blossom and the flower are huge. Nectar-feeding birds and insects will be attracted to the trees.


There are many squirrels in our city. They also climb up the trees to eat the flowers. In Hong Kong Park or other larger urban parks, we can also see squirrels and birds in the same flame tree to eat and play.

6/ Besides aesthetic or appreciation purpose, what can they bring us?

Human always get inspiration from nature.  For example, scientists discovered ultrasound because bats use ultrasound to search for food.


We can also find bats in urban parks in Hong Kong. In the parks, there are lamp posts which attract some insects at night. The bats while trying to catch those insects, can cleverly avoid all the lamp post as they use ultra sound to locate both the prey and other obstacles. It is interesting to learn knowledge from nature.

7/ What is your opinion on landscape design in our city? Besides an aesthetic purpose, what other functions do or should plants have?

Parks in Hong Kong are indeed very nice. We have many big trees and different species of plants. While the main purpose is for human to enjoy, their ecological value may not be our main concern.


However, it is not hard to relate back to ecology. A lot of plants are food for insects and birds, so we can consider their relationship while designing.  For example, if we want to attract more nectar-feeding birds like Aethopyga christinae(叉尾太陽), besides cotton trees (木棉樹) blossoms in March and April, we can also plant other flowering trees in other seasons like Chinese Hibiscus (大紅花) so the birds will stay for longer seasons. This relationship between the flowering trees and the birds can enhance the biodiversity in our urban parks.

8/ You have mentioned the concept of ecological garden(生態園藝). Can you explain briefly what it is, and how suitable it is for our urban environment?

In ecological garden, each plant has their own role. It can be functional (such as medical purpose) for human, while it can also be food for other insects and animals.


According to the characteristics of each plant and animal, we can associate them into the surrounding context, either cultural or environmental. Through understanding the role of each element, we can create a system which brings out the interdependence between all living beings.


Human being plays an important role in the concept of ecological garden. As the city is where we live, we should emphasize how human and other beings can co-exist.

9/ Urban designs in Hong Kong are mostly human-centric. Many animals and insects cleverly adapt to our urban environment, yet we notice their existence only when they enter our lives in a conflict of interest?  What is your suggestion to allow human and animals to co-exist in our urban environment or to be mutually beneficial?

To achieve mutual benefit is not that hard. It is only because we did not have this urgency in the past and led to a human-centric urban environment. Parks in our city are intentionally designed for recreational purpose and the plants are for our own appreciation.


Since we already have many parks and old trees in the city, we can make some small changes and design them into environmental educational trails.  In this way we may place some signage to allow citizens to know that the plants and animals may appear and live in the vicinity.


If citizens are informed, they may not be so surprised and afraid when they see wild animals and they may even be anticipate seeing them.


We need to increase the chance and ways to allow more understanding on wildlife. If we can create different ways to let the public knows what animals are living in their neighborhood and their relationship with us, the public won’t be so surprise and may accept their existence as normal.