ABSTRACT

The climax vegetation cover of Hong Kong, South China (latitude of 22°N), should be a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest (Hou, 1994). Due to centuries of settlement, most of the original forests have disappeared. As a result of frequent hill fires and poor soil conditions, the most common present vegetation cover is grassland. In some areas, serious soil erosion occurs and vegetation cover is lacking. Reestablishment of trees on these barren hillsides by natural succession is rather slow and requires favorable conditions such as protection from fires and shielding from strong winds. In heavily eroded areas, regeneration through natural processes is impossible. Afforestation is one of the limited means to rehabilitate these barren areas.