The effects of urbanization and industrialization

1. The effects of urbanization and industrialization ＊Land clearance and reclamation By Jennifer Chiu 6B (6) Ming Chuan Woo 6B(14)

2. Definition • What is URBANIZATION?? • It refers to the process whereby a society changes from a rural to an urban way of life. It refers also to the gradual increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas. • What is INDUSTRIALIZATION?? • It refers to the development of industry on an extensive scale

3. Why there is rapid urbanization & industrialization? • Since there is rapid growth in human population, so the demand for the expansion of the existing boundaries of urban areas is great. • Modern agriculture involves more machinery and fewer labourers than before. Farmers lose their jobs and lands and are forced to move to urban areas with their families. • Economic growth and advancement in technology result in the shift of agricultural societies to those based on manufacturing, commerce and services. This also accounts for the increasing demands for lands for commercial, industrial and tourism development

4. Case study of land clearance and reclamation ＊Tung Chung and Chek Lap Kok Airport

5. Reclamation for the construction of Chek Lap Kok Airport • Since the old international airport was unable to accommodate the future air transport demand, a new airport was built in Chek Lap Kok. • Chek Lap Kok is a small island. To construct the airport, large-scale reclamation was carried out to form the extensive land.

6. The impact of land reclamation on the environment: • Marine organisms are killed directly, buried as a result of dumping of soil at the reclaimed area, or removed from sea bottom during dredging with heavy machines • The original shore line are changed and threatens the habitats of marine organisms • Breeding grounds and feeding grounds of some species are destroyed • Some unique habitats of endangered species are lost, e.g. Chinese White Dolphins • Noise pollution of dredging destroys the sonic communication of dolphins and they easily lose their way and their lives are threatened

7. The impact of land reclamation on the environment: • Sand is dumped into the sea bottom and forms a lot of suspended solids in water, Turbidity ↑ Light penetration ↓ Photosynthesis of phytoplankton ↓ The organisms along this food chain are affected • Suspended particles clog fish gills • High turbidity reduces the visibility of animals and they have more difficulties to prey or escape from predators • Sediments dumped into the sea may have various constituents. Nutrients, e.g. phosphates and nitrates, cause algal bloom Heavy metals and organic pollutants are harmful to marine organisms

8. Land clearance for residential use and for building infrastructures in Tung Chung • As the new airport is on an outlying island far away from the city centre, Tung Chung new town was developed to provide support services, to accommodate economic development and to serve as an attractive gateway to visitors. • Communication facilities, infrastructure and transport facilities were needed to be improved. • So forests and agricultural lands were cleared before they were converted to urban areas for the development.

9. The impact of land clearance on the environment: • The loss of trees, shrubs, and other natural vegetation results in the destruction of habitats for wildlife. • Deforestation causes soil erosion and extinction of some native species. • Roads and buildings do not absorb rain water as vegetation does, leading to flooding and landslides problems. • Soil may be washed from the bare ground during heavy rainfall which pollutes the aquatic environment and also threaten aquatic lives.

10. The Pros and cons of the development of a local infrastructure Wan Chai Development Phase II

11. Wan Chai Development Phase II • The Wan Chai Development Phase II Project is the final phase of the Central and Wan Chai Reclamation. • It will provide land for transport infrastructure, including: the Central-Wan Chai Bypass the Island Eastern Corridor Link the MTR North Hong Kong Island Line the fourth rail harbour crossing section of the Shatin to Central Link. • Also, opportunity is taken to improve the waterfront, with open plazas, landscaped areas, marinas, leisure, cultural and entertainment facilities.

12. Discussion What are the PROS and CONS of the Wan Chai Development Phase II? Discuss in groups.

13. Pros: • Improve the transport network of Hong Kong • Enhance visual interest • Provide a place for people to relax, to get away from the busy city environment • Improve water quality in Causeway Bay typhoon shelter due to removal of bay • Improve public access to the waterfront from existing urban areas. • Provide recreational open space with spectacular views across the harbour. • Provide place for future tourism and leisure orientated developments. • New shoreline produce new habitats which support new ecosystems and new patterns of interaction of organisms are formed

14. Cons (During construction) : • The construction of roads on land makes the area dusty and increase the amount of suspended particles, thus worsen the visibility in Wan Chai • Noise pollution • Suspended particles and oil contaminates the water used for flushing toilets and coolers • Produce large amount of construction waste • Visual pollution, waterfront is damaged • Kill marine organism during dredging • Destroy the habitat of marine organism

15. Cons(After construction) : • Worsen the air quality in Wan Chai due to heavy traffic • Elevated road will cause bad visual impact • Narrowing the harbour roughens the sea and threatens the safety of sea traffic • Waves also sweep sediments (may contain heavy metals, pollutants, rubbish, etc.) up and block sunlight from penetrating through, which affects the algae population and other marine life • Reduce the rate of flow across the harbour, pollutants are accumulated and reduces the dissolved oxygen for the aquatic organisms

16. Reference • http://www.water.hut.fi/wr/research/glob/pubications/Haapala/pdf-files/URBANIZATION%20AND%20ENVIRONMENT.pdf • http://www.info.gov.hk/planning/p_study/comp_s/wcii/wc2txt_e.htm • http://www.epd.gov.hk/eia/chi/register/report/executive/chinese/ceia_0572001/pdf/Exe_Summary_Chi4.pdf • Manhattan Advanced-level Biology for Hong Kong • Joint-us A level Biology Past Paper Suggested Solution • Manhattan New Geography 5

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