Hong Kong’s bird-friendly design guideline study shows how broad biodiversity policy objectives can be translated into practical considerations for impact assessment, planning and project design.
Biodiversity policies often express ambitious goals, but their influence on project decisions depends on how effectively they are translated into practice. Hong Kong’s Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2035 provides the broader direction for mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors. Against this policy backdrop, development near Deep Bay and within the Northern Metropolis has highlighted the need for practical approaches to addressing bird-related risks associated with development and infrastructure.
This paper presents a Hong Kong Government study developing bird-friendly design guidelines for urban development, highway and riverine projects. Drawing on international practice, local ecological evidence and stakeholder input, the study examines how bird-friendly considerations can inform project scoping, assessment and mitigation, and be integrated into related planning and design instruments. It also provides a locally relevant framework to support the consistent evaluation and application of measures across different project types, while allowing for project-specific contexts. The paper shares lessons on balancing scientific evidence, policy ambition and implementation feasibility.
Using the guideline study as a case example, the paper demonstrates how topic-specific guidance can bridge the gap between high-level biodiversity objectives and project-level decisions. It offers transferable lessons on how impact assessment can help turn strategic sustainability goals into practical, nature-positive development outcomes.
Yoyo Mok, representing Hong Kong Institute of Environmental Impact Assessment and Ramboll, is a senior consultant specializing in impact assessments and sustainable development.