Join us for a fascinating online talk with Dr Stephan Gale, KFBG’s Head of the Flora Conservation, as he takes us on a journey into the hidden world of Hong Kong’s wild orchids and ongoing efforts to protect them.
To many Hong Kong residents, the mere mention of orchids will bring to mind colourful market scenes of bold, exotic hybrids that are sold in their thousands to adorn households during the Spring Festival. Relatively few will know that Hong Kong’s rugged landscape is home to more than 140 species of wild orchids that cling to streamside boulders, skulk in shade in the moist forest understorey, sprout among grasses on open hillsides, or carpet clifftops on misty summits across the territory. Whilst a minority are common, many are represented by just a few precious remaining individuals. Threatened by habitat degradation and illegal collection, some are on the brink of local or even global extinction. Amazingly, however, novelties still appear.
In this talk, Stephan will highlight the diversity and fragile beauty of Hong Kong’s native orchids, revealing some of their secrets for survival and showcasing the critical work undertaken at KFBG to help conserve and revive them.
At the beginning of the talk, Stephan will introduce KFBG’s experience at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show in London, UK, at which KFBG received a gold medal for a display celebrating Hong Kong’s native orchids. This world-renowned flower show, held annually in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, is one of the most prestigious horticultural events in the world, attracting plant lovers, designers and conservationists from across the globe—making our recognition there a truly special moment for Hong Kong’s natural heritage.
KFBG 70th Anniversary – 70 years of love for people and nature
This talk is part of a series of in-house dialogues created to celebrate KFBG’s 70th Anniversary. Running until the end of 2026, the series will feature lively and thought-provoking exchanges that highlight KFBG’s work in nature conservation, regenerative agriculture, sustainable living, and holistic education. These conversations provide spaces for reflection and shared learning, exploring how the legacy begun 70 years ago continues to evolve in response to today’s challenges—while staying true to its mission of fostering harmony between people and nature.
Speaker
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Dr Stephan W. Gale Led by a fascination for nature and a passion to see it thrive, Stephan leads a department of over 70 scientists, horticulturalists, arborists and technicians, collaborating with government, the private sector, academics and other professionals to conserve threatened plants, restore ecosystems and showcase the wonder of flora to diverse audiences. A botanist, forester and ecologist by training, Stephan is an internationally recognised scientist with more than 20 years’ experience studying ecosystem processes at molecular, landscape and biogeographic scales, as well as the human dimensions of conservation. His expertise spans ecological restoration, species ecology and reintroduction, conservation assessment and prioritisation, wildlife trade mitigation and public engagement. He has published over 120 peer-reviewed papers, curated award-winning botanical exhibitions, and his work has been featured in local and international media. |
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Date
25 November 2025 (Tuesday)
Time
16:00-17:00 HKT (08:00-09:00 GMT)
Format
Zoom
Language
English (supports simultaneous interpretation in Cantonese and Putonghua)
Fee
Free (a donation to support our conservation work will be appreciated)
Donations help cover essential expenses such as speakers’ fees, translation services and other resources. Additional donations support KFBG‘s ecological conservation and holistic education work. Please donate within your means, or still join us even if you are unable to contribute. Together, we can foster a transformative shift towards an ecological perspective.
Application
Please click HERE for online registration by 15:00 HKT, 25 November 2025
Note
● You will receive an auto-reply confirmation email upon registration with the Zoom link attached.
● In case of cancellation, you will be notified before the talk.
Enquiry
Email Ms Jamie Ngai at jamie.ngai@kfbg.org
Kadoorie Earth Programme (KEP) is co-created by KFBG and its network of collaborators and volunteers. By integrating the various strands of KFBG’s nature conservation, sustainable living and holistic education programmes, it provides life-transforming learning experiences that reconnect people with themselves, each other and the rest of nature and enable them to cultivate resilience in the face of climate crisis, economic uncertainty and other related challenges.
Kadoorie Earth Programme Main Page
KEP Talk Series Webpage: 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025