Page 33 - THEi Student Applied Research Presentations 2025

COEXISTENCE WITH HUMAN AND
WILDLIFE THROUGH URBAN SUSTAINABLE

MANAGEMENT

Poster Video
YAN Chak Fung
BA (Hons) in Landscape Architecture
Department of Design and Architecture

RESEARCH BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES

The escalating conflicts between humans and wildlife, particularly in areas like • Investigate the underlying causes
Kam Shan Country Park, pose significant threats to public safety and biodiversity. of human-wildlife conflicts in the
As urban expansion continues, traditional mitigation methods, such as culling Kam Shan area.
or neutering specific species, raise ethical concerns and fail to address the root • Analyze existing wildlife coexistence
causes of these conflicts. This project aims to explore alternative strategies for methods and their effectiveness.
coexistence that are ecologically sound and socially acceptable, emphasizing • Propose feasible improvement
the importance of sustainable solutions in urban wildlife management. strategies, including the establishment
of buffer zones, to enhance
METHODOLOGY coexistence between humans and
wildlife.
This project employs a mixed-methods approach to gather data on human-wildlife
interactions. First, a questionnaire was distributed to 30 randomly selected
Hong Kong residents to assess their experiences and opinions regarding
wildlife encounters in Kam Shan Country Park. Second, site inspections and
mapping were conducted to observe and record wildlife behavior, environmental
status, conflict areas, tourist routes, water and habitats. Additionally, a literature
review was performed to analyze existing coexistence strategies and their
effectiveness, providing a comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand.

FINDINGS
ABOUT THE INVESTIGATOR
Preliminary investigation results indicate that a large number of respondents
engage in activities such as hiking and barbecuing in Kam Shan, which attracts I am passionate about integrating
wildlife, especially wild boars and monkeys. The overlap of human activities ecological principles into urban
with wildlife habitats is a major cause of conflict. Additionally, urban expansion planning. My career goal is to develop
and rural abandonment have led to the disappearance of blurred areas between sustainable environments that
urban and rural settings, resulting in habitat homogenization. The findings promote biodiversity while addressing
suggest that implementing buffer zones and promoting community-supported the needs of local communities.
agriculture and sustainable tourism can complement human roles in natural I am particularly interested in
environments, reduce inappropriate and excessive interactions between human-wildlife coexistence and the
humans and wildlife, and enhance ecological and habitat diversity. This will role of design in fostering these
help foster a more harmonious relationship between local residents and wildlife relationships. My FYP supervisor is
in the area. Ms Sylvia NG.

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