2025 closed with an important milestone for The Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS), awarding in December the first ever Premium-tier certification to Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Gardens (KFBG), in Hong Kong. This was also the first site to be certified in East Asia.
Over the last 30 years, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) has managed the upper slopes of its site in Hong Kong’s New Territories for the purpose of restoring the fragile native biodiversity and its impaired ecological function.
Since the clearance of the original forest in Hong Kong, numerous native species became rare and their populations so diminished that they have not been able to rebound by themselves
“…this situation is compounded by highly degraded soils, the loss of pollinators and seed dispersal agents, the presence of invasive species and other complex ecological factors, meaning that the best hope of recovering the region’s native forests is through active restoration” says Dr @Stephan Gale, Head of Flora Conservation and manager of KFBG’s forest restoration programme.
“Becoming the first restoration project to reach TGBS Premium-Tier Certification globally, as well as the first site to be certified in East Asia, is a wonderful acclamation of many years of hard work, learning about our land, flora and fauna, and striving for the best outcomes for biodiversity and ecological function” Stephan added.
KFBG’s commitment, hard work and approach to land stewardship and rehabilitation demonstrates that following best practices, developing a science-driven programme and investing in nature-based solutions paves the way towards high results in biodiversity conservation and a more resilient future.
This achievement shows that restoration, when implemented through a science-based approach, can truly protect, enhance and restore biodiversity. KFBG now provides a model for others working in nature-based solutions, and as a TGBS Hub, they are well placed to share this knowledge.
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