Sha Lo Tung Conservation Project
- Ecological Conservation -
About Sha Lo Tung
Located in Tai Po, Hong Kong, Sha Lo Tung is a rare inland freshwater wetland in Hong Kong, home to both rich natural habitats and deep-rooted cultural heritage.
This valley once nurtured thriving Hakka farming villages and today serves as a haven for dragonflies and freshwater fish.
Its distinctive topography and steady water supply have given rise to diverse wetland ecosystems, positioning Sha Lo Tung as a vital link between ecological conservation and community culture.
This page invites you to explore this precious natural and cultural asset through three lenses: biodiversity, cultural history, and hydrological landscape.
Biodiversity
Sha Lo Tung is recognised as one of Hong Kong’s most biodiverse inland wetlands, with its mosaic of habitats supporting exceptional species richness and conservation value.
Over 80 species of dragonflies have been recorded here—accounting for more than 60% of all species found in Hong Kong—including newly discovered species first described from this site.
Historical Evolution
Sha Lo Tung’s story is not only one of nature, but also of people. It bears the traces of Hakka settlement and a rich legacy of agricultural life.
From Qing dynasty land cultivation to the terraced fields, irrigation channels, and village transformations of the mid-20th century, Sha Lo Tung is a living cultural landscape where nature and human history intertwine—reflecting both the evolution of Hong Kong’s rural past and the enduring tensions between development and conservation.
Baseline Study
We have completed a multi-dimensional baseline study encompassing climate history, land-use change, vegetation systems, hydrogeology, and stakeholder interviews.
This has allowed us to sketch a preliminary picture of the ecological succession and shifting human–land relationships in Sha Lo Tung since the decline of agriculture, laying a critical foundation for future conservation planning and collaborative governance.