The First Progress Report on the CU Tree Project (2008-2010)

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Introduction This is a progress report on the first eight months of The CU Tree Project sponsored by Hang Seng Bank. Thanks to the funding support of Hang Seng Bank, the project was started on Jul. 1, 2008. The goal of the project is to promote nature education among students and to strengthen the sense of belonging of the staff, students, and alumni of the Chinese University. It will leverage on the natural asset of the campus turning the rich, rustic elements into a botanical garden. Specifically, it is aimed to name 100 species of trees and plants on the CUHK campus with interpretation plates or tree tags, and to publish a project-funded guidebook to the plants of CUHK for the nature education of students, staff, alumni, and the public. Work Done and Progress Achieved A professional camera Nikon 3000 was purchased through the University Safety and Environment Office (USEO). Three quotations of the model were collected and compared by USEO and the one with the bargain price was chosen. Then the fieldwork and photo-taking have been underway ever since to match with the flowering seasons over the year of different types of flora on campus. A list of 55 species of trees was selected as a preliminary working list to start with (See Appendix I Tree List). Four major events were conducted from July 1, 2008 to Feb. 1, 2009. 1. Tree-tagging Volunteer Exercise on Nov. 1, 2008

With the help of the Landscaping Section, a tree-tagging volunteer exercise was successfully launched on Nov. 1, 2008, involving 30 alumni, staff, workers, and students. (See Appendix II List of Tree-tagging Volunteers and a photo album of Dr. S.Y. Hu (), and the volunteers at work on the Web at http://gallery.me.com/georgejor#100044&bgcolor=black&view=grid)

Fig. 1 Group Photo of the Dr. S.Y. Hu with Volunteer Staff, Faculty, and Students

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2. Tree Talk and Tree Walks on the CUHK Alumni Homecoming Day () on Dec. 7, 2008

Working together with the Alumni Affairs Office and the Landscaping Section, the CU Tree Group organized a tree talk and three tree walks for more than a hundred alumni and staff on Dec. 7, 2008. Feedback from participants has been favourable and encouraging. The events were reported in the latest issue of the Chinese University Alumni Magazine (No.56 December 2008).

Fig. 2. Tree Walk led by Mr. Yau Chongkei starting from the Alumni Garden

Fig.3. Mr. Yau, former head of Landscaping Section, giving alumni a guided tour along the Alumni Walk

Fig.4 Tree Talk on the Alumni Homecoming Day on Dec. 7, 2008.

Fig. 5 Audience of the Tree Talk on Dec. 7, 2008.

There were three tree walks and one tree talk on that day. The total number of participants was about 150. (See Appendix III Tree Walk and Tree Talks handout and more photos on the Web at http://www.alumni.cuhk.edu.hk/homecoming/photo/ http://gallery.me.com/georgejor#100071&bgcolor=black&view=grid ) 3. Contributing to the Tree Conservation and Management Seminar on Dec. 13, 2008 The Tree Conservation and Management Seminar () was organized by the Department of Geography Resources Management, the Department of Biology together with other organizations. Officiated by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Michael Hui and Prof. L.M. Chu of the Biology Department, Chairman of the University Environment Committee, on Dec. 13, the seminar invited scholars and experts from four places on both sides of the Strait, namely, Mainland China, Taiwan, Macao, and Hong Kong as well as the U.S. A tree folder with the Hang Seng Bank, The Green Bank logo was given to everyone of the participants as a souvenir. (See Appendix IV Tree Folder and the Tree Seminar group photo attached). The tree folder was specially designed by one of our Fine Arts alumni. It was very well received by all the local and overseas participants. There were about 150 participants.

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Fig.6 The First Tree Conservation and Management Seminar gathered 150 Scholars and Tree

Experts from around the world.

4. Contributing to the Walking for Health Campaign () on Jan. 9, 2009 The annual Walking for Health Campaign of the CUHK was held on Jan. 9, 2009. There are about 650 students, staff, teachers, and alumni who took part in the walk. Seven hundred tree folders were prepared as gifts for them to promote an awareness of walking culture and tree appreciation on campus (see Appendix IV).

Fig. 7. Group Photo of the Walking for Health Campaign on Jan. 9, 2009 showing Dr. S.Y. Hu together with Prof. Jack Cheng, Pro-Vice-Chancellor

and the College Heads and staff of the University

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Plans of Future Activities in 2009 Four major activities have been conducted in cooperation with various units and bodies of the University. The total number of participants and people involved was 980. The budget and expenses is summarized in Appendix VI Interim Financial Report (Jun. 1, 2008 Jan. 31, 2009). On the research part, further fieldwork, literature review, and collection of data will be conducted and photos of trees in different seasons will be taken. More tree walks and tree talks will be organized for students, staff, and alumni with the help of the Alumni Affairs Office in the coming months. Construction of a Project website is underway. Details will be reported in the next submission on Jun. 30, 2009. Acknowledgement We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Hang Seng Bank, the Green Bank, for the funding support of the CU Tree Project. Without the gracious support of Hang Seng Bank, the Green Bank, all these activities and the project would not have been possible. We would also like to acknowledge the help of numerous colleagues from various units of the University, in particular, Ms. Antonia Yeung, Director of the Alumni Affairs Office, Mr. Jack Yung of the University Safety and Environment Office, Mr. Billy Wong, Mr. Mok Siu Man and Mr. Steward Cheng of the Landscaping Section, the Estate Management Office, Mr. Yau Chung Kei, Herbal Garden Supervisor of the Institute of Chinese Medicine, and Mr. Ricky Cheng and Ms. Ivy Yeung of the Office of Institutional Advancement. Appendixes I Tree List II List of Tree-tagging Volunteers III Tree Walk and Tree Talks Handout IV Tree Folder Sample V Tree Statistics of CUHK VI Interim Financial Report (Jun. 1, 2008 Jan. 31, 2009) Respectfully submitted by George Jor for the CU Tree Project on Feb. 18, 2009.

Appendix I

A List of Some of The Trees Commonly Found on the Campus of The Chinese University of Hong KongScientific Name Name in Chinese Common Name in English Family

1 Acacia confusa Taiwan Acacia MIMOSACEAE 2 Acronychia pedunculata , Acronychia RUTACEAE 3 Albizia chinensis Chinese Albizia , Albizia MIMOSACEAE 4 Albizia lebbek Lebbek Tree MIMOSACEAE 5 Aleurites moluccana Candlenut Tree EUPHORBIACEAE 6 Aporusa chinensis , Aporusa , Common Aporosa EUPHORBIACEAE 7 Aquilaria sinensis Incense Tree THYMELAEACEAE 8 Araucaria heteropyhlla Norfolk Island Pine ARAUCARIACEAE 9 Bauhinia blakeana Hong Kong Orchid Tree CAESALPINIACEAE

10 Bauhinia spp. Camel's Foot tree CAESALPINIACEAE 11 Bombax malabaricum Tree Cotton , Red Kapok Tree BOMBACACEAE 12 Canarium album Chinese White Olive BURSERACEAE 13 Castanopsis fissa , Castanopsis FAGACEAE ()14 Casuarina equisetifolia Horsetail Tree CASUARINACEAE 15 Celtis sinensis Chinese Hackberry ULMACEAE 16 Cinnamomum camphora Camphor tree LAURACEAE 17 Delonix regia Flame of the Forest CAESALPINIACEAE 18 Eucalyptus citriodora Lemon-scented Gum MYRTACEAE 19 Eucalyptus robusta Swamp Mahogany MYRTACEAE 20 Euphoria longan Longan SAPINDACEAE 21 Ficus altissima Mountain Fig MORACEAE 22 Ficus benjamina Weeping Fig MORACEAE 23 Ficus elastica India-rubber Tree , Caoutchuc MORACEAE 24 Ficus microcarpa Chinese Banyan MORACEAE 25 Ficus spp. Fig (33 species in this HK databaseMORACEAE 26 Ficus variegata Common Red-stem Fig MORACEAE 27 Glyptostrobus pensilis Water Pine TAXODIACEAE 28 Gmelina chinensis NIL VERBENACEAE 29 Hibiscus tiliaceus Cuban Bast , Sea Hibiscus MALVACEAE 30 Jacaranda acutifolia Jacaranda BIGNONIACEAE 31 Khaya senegalensis NIL MELIACEAE 32 Lagerstroemia speciosa Queen Crape Myrtle LYTHRACEAE 33 Liquidambar formosana Sweet Gum , Chinese Sweet Gum HAMAMELIDACEAE 34 Lysidice rhodostegia Lysidice CAESALPINIACEAE 35 Machilus pauhoi Many-nerved Machilus LAURACEAE 36 Machilus spp. Machilus LAURACEAE 37 Mangifera indica Mango tree ANACARDIACEAE 38 Melaleuca leucadendron Paper-bark tree MYRTACEAE 39 Melia azedarach , China-berry , Persian Lilac MELIACEAE 40 Michelia alba White Jade Orchid Tree , White ChaMAGNOLIACEAE 41 Michelia champaca ellow Jade Orchid Tree MAGNOLIACEAE 42 Peltophorum pterocarpum Yellow Poinciana CAESALPINIACEAE 43 Pinus morrisonicola [Taiwan Five-needle Pine] PINACEAE 44 Pinus spp. Pine PINACEAE 45 Pterocarpus indicus Burmese Rosewood FABACEAE (PAPILIONACEAE)46 Roystonea regia Royal Palm ARECACEAE (PALMAE) 47 Samanea saman Rain Tree (Monkeypod) FABACEAE 48 Sapium sebiferum Chinese Tallow Tree , Tallow-tree EUPHORBIACEAE 49 Schima superba Schima , Chinese Gugertree THEACEAE 50 Sideroxylon wightianum , Iron Olive SAPOTACEAE 51 Spathodea campanulata African Tulip Tree BIGNONIACEAE 52 Sterculia lanceolata Lance-leaved Sterculia , Scarlet Ste STERCULIACEAE 53 Syzygium jambos Rose Apple MYRTACEAE 54 Taxodium distichum Bald Cypress , Deciduous Cypress TAXODIACEAE 55 Tristania conferta Brisbane Box MYRTACEAE

Sources: (2000). . , Hong Kong Herbarium. http://www.hkherbarium.net/Herbarium/frame.htmlHong Kong Tree Society http://www.hktree.com/ Alumni HomecomingLeave Vein http://www.leafvein.net/ Tree Talk: 3:30 pm - 4:00 pmHKNature.net http://www.hknature.net/ Lady Shaw Building LT 3. (2005). (2008). Tree Walks: Right after the talk(2004). ; . (1990). . : (2004). : Hu, S.Y. (2004). An Enumeration of the Spermatophytes of Hong Kong Contact e-mail: georgejor@cuhk.edu.hk(2008). . (Field Guide to Trees in Hong Kong's Countryside) . Prepared by George C.K. Jor of the CU Tree Project Group for CUHK Alumni Homecoming on Dec.7, 2008. Sponsored by

Appendix II

Volunteer List for the CU Tree Project and Tree-tagging Exercise on Nov. 1, 2008

No. Name Staff/Student/Alumni Details

1 Fong Nga Yin, Fion Staff Department of Biochemistry (Medicine)

2 Ma Pui Suen Alumni Master of Science, Class of 2008

3 Lo Ming Nam Student Chung Chi College, Department of Biology, Year 3

4 Chu Ka Wing Student Chung Chi College, Department of Biology, Year 2

7 Cao Yuxia Student United College, Food and Nutritional Sciences Programme, Year 4

8 Chen Ke Student Shaw College, Department of Physics, Year 3

9 Nina Chu Staff Department of Biochemistry

10 Connie Yuen Alumni Biology graduate, Class of 2004

11 Gu Fangjie Student Chung Chi College, Food and Nutritional Sciences Programme, Year

14 Siu Hon Chung Staff School of Chinese Medicine

15 Wong Siu Wai, Winnie Staff School of Chinese Medicine

16 Chow Ming Him Student United College, Environmental Science Programme, Year 2

17 Mak Ho Hon Student Shaw College, Environmental Science Programme, Year 2

18 Zhu Kexin Student Shaw College, Department of Biology, Year 1

20 Gao Shane, Sammy Alumni Graduate student, Class of 2006

21 Mak Chi Kit Student New Asia College, Department of Biochemistry, Year 2

23 Xiao Di, Sophia Student New Asia College, Arts and Science Stream, Year 1

24 Yuen Ye Student Chung Chi College, Department of Computer Engineering, Year 4

25 Fan Hung Sang Student Chung Chi College, Environmental Science Programme, Year 2

26 Kung Ka Wai, Gary Student Chung Chi College, Environmental Science Programme, Year 2

27 Amelia Lo Staff Centre for Health Education and Health Promotion

28 Ms. Amy Kwong Staff Centre for Health Education and Health Promotion

29 Wong Chi Kin, Ketchup Student Shaw College, Department of Biology, Year 2

30 Lak Ka Yan Student Shaw College, Department of Biology, Year 2

31 Chan Chi Tak Student Shaw College, Environmental Science Programme, Year 3

32 Cheng Man Chung Student Shaw College, Department of Biology, Year 3

CUHK Tree Talks and Walks for the Alumni Homecoming (Sunday Dec. 7, 2008) Aims:

o To introduce the CU Tree Project to friends and alumni of CUHK o To strengthen the sense of belonging of the alumni and staff of CUHK o To give alumni guided tours of campus flora along the CU Alumni Trail o To raise awareness of campus trees and nature education with the corporate

support of Hang Seng Bank, the Green Bank. Programme: A talk and three walks for your selection (One walk in the morning, two in the afternoon)Tree Talks: A brief introduction to the CU Tree Project 2008-2010 Duration: Half an hour. Time: 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm Capacity: 90 Venue: LSB LT 3 (Lady Shaw Building Lecture Theatre 3) Tree Walks: Guided tours of the CU Alumni Trail and the Herbal Garden by three experts:

Mr. Yau Chung Kei (), former head of Landscaping Section, CUHK Mr. Cheng Siu Bun (), tree specialist, Landscaping Section, CUHK

Mr. Woo Ting Kwok (), tree specialist, Biology Department, CUHK Start: From the Alumni Garden next to the BFC Benjamin Franklin Centre (and the

Swimming Pool), walking down the hill to the finish. Finish: Weiyuan Lake in Chung Chi College Time: In the morning Group A will be led by Mr. Yau Chung Kei (9:00 am 12 noon) Group Size: No fixed limit (finishing with tree planting near Dr. Hus place at ). In the afternoon (No pre-registration required. Sign up in the tree talk).

Group B will be led by Mr. Woo Ting Kwok, (4:00 p.m. 4:45 p.m.) Group C will be led by Mr. Cheng Siu Bun, (4:15 p.m. 5:00 p.m.)

Group Size: 12 individuals or 6 parties for Group B and C. (A small family of three or fewer members can be counted as one party.)

Contact persons: Mr. Jack Yung, University Safety and Environment Office. (Tel. 2609-7959) Mr. Cheng Siu Bun, Landscaping Section, CUHK (E-mail: shiubun@bld.msmail.cuhk.edu.hk) Mr. Yau Chung Kei, Former head of Landscaping Section, CUHK (E-mail: yauchungkei@yahoo.com) Mr. George Jor (), The CU Tree Project Group (E-mail: georgejor@cuhk.edu.hk) Comments and Suggestions: Thank you for your support of the CU Tree project and the tree walks. We are highly appreciative of your show of interest and care for the trees of CUHK. Please let us have your comments and suggestions for improvement of these tree talk and tree walks. ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ---------------------------------------------- C U T HERE ---------------------------------------------------------------- Tree Walk Reply Slip (For Group A Only). No need to register for Group B & C. Sign up at the tree talk. Name (in English) Mr./Mrs/Ms/Dr._____________________ (in Chinese) ________________________ College/Major/Year of Graduation: _________________/_________________/_____________________ Contact phone number: ____________________ Contact e-mail: _______________________________ Name, in Chinese, of your partner(s), who would join you in the walk: _____________________________ (Please return the Reply Slip to georgejor@cuhk.edu.hk. Thank you.)

Appendix III

Appendix IV

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Appendix V