Hong Kong Biodiversity Information Hub and Biodiversity Geographic Information System

As a key initiative under the Hong Kong Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) launched the Hong Kong Biodiversity Information Hub (HKBIH) in 2022. This digital platform opens a window into Hong Kong’s rich and mesmerising biodiversity, fostering public appreciation and awareness.

Through collaborations with academic institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the HKBIH has evolved into the city’s largest open biodiversity database, featuring over 5,500 local species and hosting more than a hundred relevant educational activities organised by AFCD or its partner organisations annually for schools and the general public. Building on this success, AFCD rolled out the Biodiversity Geographic Information System (BGIS) in January 2025, as the second phase development of the HKBIH. Since the launch of the BGIS, HKBIH’s monthly visits have doubled from an average of over 10,000 to more than 20,000. This surge not only demonstrates the popularity of the HKBIH and its BGIS but also reflects the public’s growing interest in Hong Kong’s natural heritage and species.

The BGIS is more than just a digital map but a comprehensive archive of Hong Kong’s biodiversity spatial data with the following major content and functions:

• Over a million species occurrence records contributed by AFCD and its collaborators (e.g. other government departments, universities and NGOs) and data consolidated from research project funded by various schemes and citizen science projects
• Interactive search functions to find species by name, area of interests or even using your phone’s GPS App
• Multiple map layer and basemap choices to visualise how wildlife associates with different habitats, protected areas and urban spaces
• Compare occurrence records of two selected species and explore their potential co-occurrence in the same geographic areas

With the integration of the BGIS into the existing databases, the HKBIH now offers comprehensive profiles for numerous local species with their introductions, high-quality photos and occurrence records, alongside other educational resources, making the HKBIH a one-stop digital hub for enhancing public understanding on biodiversity, and supporting the work of educators, researchers and environmental professionals. Below are some demonstrated impacts:

• Teachers are using its rich resources to bring ecology to life in classrooms
• Students rely on its data for projects, fostering a new generation of environmentally conscious citizens
• Media groups and other educational organisations leverage its photos and other educational materials to promote Hong Kong’s natural resources

Encouragingly, more and more organisations and nature lovers have expressed their readiness contribute to further enrich the databases of the HKBIH, nurturing a community-driven culture to promoting biodiversity knowledge sharing. The HKBIH and its BGIS demonstrate how digitalisation and technology can effectively connect and optimise data accessibility, public engagement and conservation efforts.

For more details, please click here to view the relevant press release.

[Acknowledgement to the AFCD for providing material for the story.]