Green Ambassadors promote green hiking etiquette

     To strengthen the promotion of the "Leave No Trace at Mountain and Sea" messages, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) launched a three-month Green Hiking Etiquette Campaign on September 12. The campaign was launched in collaboration with four local non-profit organisations and ties in with the Environment Bureau (ENB)'s Green Employment Scheme. Through the time-limited jobs created by the organisations, Green Ambassadors have been employed to promote green hiking etiquette to the public at five popular hiking spots on weekends, bringing about multiple benefits including the promotion of conservation of the environment and ecology in the countryside.
      
     A spokesman for the ENB said today (September 26), "With the easing of the epidemic situation and the fact that the Government has already relaxed the mask-wearing requirement in outdoor public places like the country parks, in addition to the coming of autumn, we anticipate that there will be an increase in the number of hikers in the countryside. To minimise the impact on the rural environment due to the increasing number of visits, the EPD has joined forces with local non-profit-making organisations to launch the Green Hiking Etiquette Campaign to raise public awareness on nature conservation."
      
     The Green Ambassadors are promoting green hiking etiquette during the weekends from September 12 to mid-December at the popular hiking spots of Robin's Nest, Tai Lam Chung, Tai O, the Tsing Yi Nature Trails and the Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail. They are spreading the key messages of "Leave No Trace at Mountain and Sea" to the public, such as "take your litter home", "bring your own bottle to reduce single-use plastic consumables" and "properly dispose of masks". Interactive promotional approaches have been adopted to attract attention and make an impression. Information on local scenery, ecological habitats, biodiversity and the unique features of the hiking spots are also provided by the Green Ambassadors to visitors.
 
     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has also made arrangements to promote green hiking etiquette, waste reduction and nature conservation in popular hiking locations inside country parks, with a view to fostering a good hiking and outing culture.
      
     The spokesman appealed to members of the public to maintain appropriate social distance in outdoor public places in the countryside to prevent the spread of disease, in addition to maintaining proper green hiking etiquette.