DR. HAU CHI HANG BILLY

Biography

BILLY got his PhD in The University of Hong Kong (HKU) on forest ecology. He is a terrestrial ecologist and a conservationist. His research focus is ecological restoration, especially for terrestrial habitats in degraded tropical East Asia. He aims to bring back native forest and the associated forest biodiversity into the degraded landscape in Hong Kong and South China. He founded the Native Tree Nursery of the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) which promotes the use of native plant species in forest restoration work. He is also one of the founders of the China programme of KFBG which aims at halting biodiversity loss in South China. He has set up a 20 ha long term forest monitoring plot in Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve, Hong Kong under the Center for Tropical Forest Science (CTFS) – Forest Global Earth Observatory (ForestGEO) programme of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. It is a global network of forest research sites that is strategically positioned for monitoring, understanding, and predicting forest responses to global climate change.

He has been promoting urban biodiversity through applied research. He is a local expert in ecological restoration on man-made slopes and natural terrains and often engaged by the government in contract research projects on trees and slopes in Hong Kong. His contribution to the “Comprehensive Street Tree Management Plan for Hong Kong” for the Development Bureau in promoting urban biodiversity through the planting of appropriate tree species in urban Hong Kong has made him a Winner in Landscape Policy and Research of the Landscape Institute Awards 2014 (UK).

He has been teaching ecology, biodiversity and conservation at HKU for 20 years and is currently the Principal Lecturer and Programme Director of the MSc in Environmental Management. He is also the Assistant Dean (Taught Postgraduate Programmes) of the Faculty of Science. He has been instrumental in developing experiential learning and knowledge exchange programmes for his students at HKU. He founded the HKU Eco-Leaders Training Programme in 2009 which involves training students on field ecology in preparation for expeditions to global biodiversity hotspots including Tanzania; Kenya; Madagascar; India; Sri Lanka; Sulawesi; the Galapagos and Amazon. He is a mentor of many young conservationists in Hong Kong who are now contributing to environmental conservation. Dr. Hau strongly believes in the importance of youth development as young people is the society’s future leaders. He was the Deputy Master of New College, the Warden of Morrison Hall the Senior Tutor of Lee Hysan Hall of HKU respectively in the last 20 years.

In terms of professional services, he has been serving various environmental NGOs and government committees on ecology and conservation. He is a Professional Member and Board of Director of the Hong Kong Institute of Qualified Environmental Professionals. He was a member of the Country and Marine Parks Board and the Advisory Council on the Environment. He is a member of the Town Planning Board; EIA Appeal Board and the Urban Forestry Advisory Panel of the government. (April 2020)<2020年4月>