Ecology
“Ecology” refers to the environment and organisms in a particular location and the interaction between the two. Different organisms have different survival requirements. The more diverse and complex the environment, the more species it can nurture. Sha Lo Tung has a diverse and complex ecological environment, thus it contains high biodiversity.
Sha Lo Tung is located at an altitude of over 150 metres, with the Pat Sin Leng acting as a barrier from the north to the east, and Cloudy Hill surrounding it from the south to the west. The entire river valley basin is seemingly isolated from the outside world, forming a corner of its own. Sha Lo Tung is also one of the few mountain valley basins in Hong Kong, and its unique geographical environment has given rise to species that are relatively rare in other parts of Hong Kong.
The three streams, originating from Cloudy Hill and Pat Sin Leng, flow through Sha Lo Tung at the same time. In the past, the Hakka people fully utilised Sha Lo Tung’s geographical advantages to grow rice, forming large areas of wet paddy fields. However, as the villagers gradually abandoned their farms and moved away, these paddy fields slowly turned into marshes, becoming one of the important habitats in the area.
Just like many other historically significant villages in the New Territories where villagers liked to plant feng shui forests behind their villages, Sha Lo Tung is no exception. Each village planted large feng shui forests, and they are scattered in different corners of Sha Lo Tung. The forests have over 100 years of history, and are lush and dense, providing habitats for various animals.
The open basin, wetlands, clear streams, vast marshlands, lush hill forests, etc., have given form to Sha Lo Tung’s diverse ecological environment and shaped the region’s rich biodiversity.
