Innovative Synergy between Slope Upgrading and Ecological Conservation in Preventive Maintenance Programme

In order to preserve the natural woodland and vegetation under Preventive Maintenance Programme of Highways Department of HKSAR (HyD), tree preservation and species conservation are of important factors to be considered during the construction phase. However, drawbacks such as degraded micro-habitats, diminished both bio- & genetic diversities from non-native sources, and the challenges of maintenance works against invasive plants persist. Traditional post-construction soft landscape plantation is often insufficient in addressing such complex ecological issues, especially in exposed / ecologically sensitive slopes. This paper shares a practical, collaborative case study between Ecologists / Plant Specialists and Geotechnical Engineers in preserving a natural floral community during slope upgrading works. Challenges and lessons learnt in this case contribute to an insight for sustainable management of both ecological preservation and slope engineering project.