Macau Yearbook 2013 - Macao Yearbook

Macao Yearbook 20135. By-law No. 40/2004 on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Control enacted on 14 December 2004,which defined the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau’s role in the sanitary and phytosanitarycontrol of merchandise.In addition, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna andFlora (CITES), the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the International Plant ProtectionConvention have been made applicable to Macao, thus ensuring that Macao’s nature conservationpolicies conform to international practices.Nature ReserveThe Taipa-Coloane Wetland Reserve managed by the Environmental Protection Bureau is situatedadjacent to the Lotus Flower Bridge in Taipa and Coloane. It has a total area of 55 hectares, includinga 40-hectare bird foraging area that is regarded as zone two of the reserve, on the west coast ofreclaimed area between Taipa and Coloane. Next to this zone is a 15-hectare bird habitat, regardedas zone one of the reserve, which provides different bird species with suitable habitats. During2012, 55 of the rare Black-faced Spoonbill were spotted in the nature reserve.To enhance the ecological function of the ecology conservation zone, the EnvironmentalProtection Bureau carried out an optimisation project in 2012, which includes removing weeds toenlarge the birds’ foraging area in mudflats; building two bird-watching houses, which were openedin February 2012 for the public to watch birds from a closer distance; the paths towards the birdwatchinghouses were set up as nature trails to strengthen the education role of the ecology zone.Country ParksThere are four country parks in Macao: Seac Pai Van Country Park, Taipa Grande Nature Park,Hac Sa Reservoir Country Park, and Ka Ho Reservoir Country Park.Seac Pai Van Country ParkAdjacent to Seac Pai Van Road in western Alto de Coloane, Seac Pai Van Country Park covers anarea of about 198,000 square metres, and provides a wide range of facilities. Its animal facilitiescomprise the Giant Panda Pavilion, a zoo, and an aviary. Its exhibitions facilities feature the GiantPanda Information Centre and the Museum of Nature and Agriculture. Other leisure facilitiesinclude a children’s playground, a large picnic area and a snack bar.Giant Panda PavilionNestled against a hillside, the Giant Panda Pavilion covers an area of about 3,000 square metres,with an appearance designed to resemble nature. The panda living quarters are under a hi-techtranslucent film roof that ensures adequate natural lighting. Both the indoor and outdoor enclosuresof the Giant Panda Pavilion are modelled on the natural terrain of panda habitats, with streamsand cascades, shrubs and trees, a wooden resting platform and rocks for climbing. Everything isdesigned and fine-tuned to the pandas’ needs and comfort.394