YEA 4th Edition, Day 2: Nature-Based Solutions, Biodiversity & Field Trip to Beetales

On 25 July 2025, the Young Environment Ambassador (YEA) programme continued with an engaging and insightful Day 2 filled with expert talks, interactive activities, and a hands-on field visit. The focus of the day was on deepening students’ understanding of biodiversity, nature-based solutions, and local conservation efforts in Hong Kong.

To start the day, we were delighted to welcome Outdoor Wildlife Learning Hong Kong (OWLHK), which presented a fascinating talk on nature conservation and biodiversity in the city. OWLHK introduced students to several precious and unique species found in Hong Kong, raising awareness of the rich wildlife that exists alongside urban areas.

To bring the learning to life, OWLHK then hosted a board game session called Law of the Forest. This interactive game invited students to explore the complex relationships among different species, predators, and the impacts of urbanisation and wildfires on local wildlife. Students responded enthusiastically, describing the game as both fun and enlightening, helping them appreciate the often overlooked factors contributing to biodiversity disruption.

Following this, Valentin, last year’s YEA winner, delivered an inspiring talk introducing the concept of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to the students. Valentin shared how NbS leverage natural processes to address environmental challenges, providing examples from both Hong Kong and overseas. He also highlighted the current state of biodiversity in Hong Kong, emphasising the urgent need for conservation action.

In the late morning, Mr Gomen See, Marine Science Programme Co-ordinator at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, led a guided tour through the museum. Students gained valuable insights into the history of Hong Kong’s maritime culture and the diversity of marine life, enhancing their understanding of Hong Kong’s ecological heritage.

The afternoon was spent at an unusual but fascinating field visit – an indoor beekeeping site located within an industrial building. We thank Mr. Harry Wong, founder of Beetales, for hosting students and sharing his expert knowledge about bee species and their habitats. The visit included two engaging sessions: a close-up inspection of the bee boxes, where students learned about bee management and behaviour, followed by a creative natural lip balm making workshop. Using beeswax, olive oil, sweet almond oil, shea butter, and olive butter, the students crafted their own lip balms, combining learning with hands-on fun.

The day concluded with a debriefing session at Beetales, where Harry expressed his hope that young people and schools will become agents of change for urban bee conservation. He encouraged students to view bees not as scary creatures, but as vital contributors to biodiversity. Harry urged them to consider setting up bee boxes in schools and urban spaces, expressing his aspiration for every district in Hong Kong to have a bee conservation centre.

Civic Exchange thanks all our speakers and partners for their dedication and insightful contributions. The students left the day inspired, better informed, and ready to champion biodiversity and sustainable solutions in their communities.