米埔沼澤 / Mai Po Marshes
米埔沼澤總佔地面積約393公頃，其中基圍(淺蝦塘)和堤岸共佔209公頃，其餘為潮間帶和矮紅樹林。
The Mai Po Marshes cover an area of about 393 hectares of which 209 hectares are kei wais (shallow shrimp ponds) and bunds, the remainder being tidal creeks and dwarf mangrove.
米埔沼澤擁有全香港最大、最重要的矮紅樹林。這片演替中的紅樹林群落有着極高的產量，它與人工基圍一同為這裡的留鳥和候鳥提供了豐富的食物來源。此外它更為許多鳥類提供築巢的棲息地。這裡是全港唯一一個可以經常見到大量鴨子丶水鳥和涉禽的地點，因此具有相當大的潛力作康樂和教育用途。
The Marshes contain the largest and most important area of dwarf mangrove in Hong Kong. This highly productive seral community and the related man-made kei wais provide a rich food source for both resident and migratory birds, as well as nesting habitats for a number of species. The marshes are the only area in Hong Kong where large number of duck, shore and marsh birds can regulary be seen and, as such, have a very considerable recreational and educational potential.
地點資訊 Site Details
相關風險 Degree of Hazards
這個地點共有98個建築以及約有200名居民，在春季與秋季的遷徙季節和整個冬季期間，都持續有非法網捕鳥類的情況發生。另外這裡還有一定數量的非法射擊行為出現。大生圍的房屋發展將會直接影響到米埔沼澤的環境。如果沒有限制出入的話，建築工人和居民的頻繁進出將會影響到沼澤的生境。隨著現有的魚塘不斷被填平，部分在發展區域的居民可能會遷往附近的沼澤地。担竿洲警崗附近正進行石墨開採，其中有40個建築持有許可證。如果開採活動持續的話，這些建築的住戶或許也會遷往沼澤。在1974年3月曾經在紅樹林一帶發現一個非法魚塘。若果情況持續，非法魚塘不但會嚴重破壞當地的生態，更會影響到基圍的運作和蠔床的生產力。
A total of some 98 structures with about 200 inhabitants are present in the area.
There is continual illegal netting of birds during spring and autumn migrations and throughout the winter. A certain amount of illegal shooting occurs.
The housing development at Tai Shang Wai will directly affect the area unless controls are placed on access as it is certain that construction workers, and later residents, will visit the area. With continued infilling of the existing fish ponds, some of the people currently living on the development site may move across onto th marshes.
Graphite mining is being conducted near the Tam Ken Chau Police Post. There appear to be some 40 structures in the area at present covered by the mining licence and the occupants may move out onto the marshes if mining continues.
An illegal fish pond was found in the cuter mangrove belt in March 1974. Should further such ponds be developed in the mangrove the results could be serious, not only for the wildlife of the area but also in relation to the operation of the kei wais and the productivity of the oysterbeds.