April 2023 marks the 53rd anniversary of Earth Day, a time for us to reflect on the benefits of nature to our lives. Taking advantage of Earth Month, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) advocates that the public “Take a Break”, connect with nature and establish an unforgettable connection with the natural world! Let’s all take a moment to reflect on the importance of nature in our lives and to pause from the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse ourself in our city’s natural beauty . Let's rediscover the joy of spending time outdoors, truly appreciate Hong Kong’s green spaces and recognize the connection between nature and our physical and mental well-being. In doing so, we can bond with family and friends and create precious memories that will last a lifetime.
From 15th April, 2023 to 14th May, 2023，TNC is collaborating with restaurants near urban green areas to launch the "Earth Month Picnic Set". Each set contains TNC picnic mats specially designed to celebrate Earth Month, two portions of snacks and drinks, along with reusable containers and utensils. The sets will allow us to enjoy nature, cultivate the habit of reducing waste, lessen the burden on our planet and create a greener, more livable city together.
Check out below for the details of Earth Month picnic event and some "green ideas" for your daily life.
TNC eco-friendly picnic set
From 15 April to 14 May, TNC partners with restaurants near urban green spaces to launch the "Earth Month Picnic Set" with reusable lunch boxes, cups and utensils. Purchase the set and enjoy leisure time in nature!
How to participate in the picnic?
- Purchase an “Earth Month Picnic Set” in partnering restaurants
- Enjoy the snacks and drinks in nearby green areas
- Remember to take your litter and leave no trace
- Return the basket to the restaurant and keep the mat and all reusable materials for future use
The Earth Month Picnic Set
Leave No Trace
When we can't connect with others, we can connect and be inspired by nature in all its forms. Whether you are playing with your child in your local park or taking a hike in the New Territories, here are some tips to leave nature intact when you visit it.
- Don’t take rocks, plants, sticks or other natural objects.
- Don’t feed animals: feeding wildlife damages their health, changes their behaviors and exposes them to predators.
- Do visit less popular trails.
- Do be safe. Stay on the trail and avoid going into wild areas.
- Do keep your dogs on a lead at all times.
- Do be polite by yielding to other users on the trail.
- Do let the sound of nature comfort you and others: avoid loud radios, voices and noises.
Mind Your Trash
Nature is here for us today, and if we take care of it, nature will be here for us tomorrow. We are all in this together, so Act for Earth when you are enjoying the outdoors.
- Don’t litter. There has been an increase in littering on beaches and trails, especially of face masks.
- Don’t plan to bin your rubbish when out in nature. The number of public rubbish bins has been reduced to curb public waste, and there may not be one available on your outing.
- Do plan to take any rubbish you generate home with you.
- Do remove all organic rubbish including apple cores, banana peels, peanut shells, etc. It can take up to two years for an orange peel to decompose, and human food can be dangerous to wildlife that consume it. Do consider “plogging” meaning picking up trash while jogging, hiking or walking.
Care For Wildlife
Despite being a densely populated city, Hong Kong has a huge variety of plants and animals. Of the 245 species of butterflies in Hong Kong, 50 of them have been recorded in urban parks, proving nature really is all around us. Act for Earth by thinking about how you can care for wildlife.
- Don’t buy or consume wildlife products such as shark’s fin, turtle shells or ivory.
- Don’t use pesticides or rodent killers around your home that can harm species and pollute waterways.
- Do understand how habitats are interconnected and know that what happens on land affects water sources.
- Do reduce plastics that can impact marine life including micro plastics found in toothpaste and beauty products.
- Do support organizations that are working to conserve wildlife and biodiversity.
- Do consider joining the City Nature Challenge 2020, April 24 – 27, while practicing social distancing Hong Kong ranked second globally in 2019 with 3,596 species recorded four days.
