Ming Sze Chung
Gratia Christian College
Shirley M C Yeung
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In 2011, Mr Yuen established a company of "Alxa League Springfield Forest Limited" to continue the environmental project and pull people with different skill sets to help.
The solution has helped one SDGs which is Goal 17 (Partnerships for the goals) .
For Goal 17, the solution helps people with different background and the team from Alxa League Springfield Forest Limited develop multi-disciplinary knowledge though endless co-operation for an environmental project. And, the project provides us a chance to survive, to innovate, and to understand more about the balance between the nature and human needs.
Interview with Mr. Yuen, Director of Manfield Group on 20th September, 2017.
An interview has been conducted by Hastings Chung, a Year 2 BBA in Service Marketing and Management student in Gratia Christian College (GCC), Hong Kong with Mr. Yuen.Mr Yuen said, "The main purpose of Malan Lake project is to protect the environment."
Mr Yuen mentioned that co-operation between the key stakeholders and ecological foundation (NGO) is a must in operating the Malan Lake project.“The target of the new project is to re-forest the desert into one part of the Wuhai Highway which is near to yellow river of China in coming years and a lady staff member, project coordinator of Ye Wai Ping, brings tremendous efforts in this project."
During the interview, Mr. Yuen highlighted that their main challenges for sustainable development were :
- Strong wind blows up the sand;
- Huge sand dune appears;
- Up to heights over 30 m;
- Moves forward up to 10 to 12 m per year;
- Strong wind can easily blow up the plants, even uproots the whole crops.
Mr Yuen mentioned that there is a need to re-plant at lowest possible cost, find methods to avoid plants or crops being blown away as water is scarce and costly at high ground. Their team also needs to try to re-plant without irrigation. This relies on professional knowledge despite attempts to learn from local and international experts.
“What are the innovations learnt from the project for sustainable development?” asked Hastings.
Mr Yuen replied that stem planting 插枝法 (UNSDG 15 Life on Earth & Environment) without irrigation is one of the innovations of this project. Other innovations include:
- Soaking the stems of suitable plants such as 沙柳 (sand floss) into water before planting these stems into a hole exceeding 1 m deep;
- Planting in places with or without water irrigation is made possible;
- Replying on limited water which the stem absorbed and the limited moisture in the sand deep beneath the desert surface; and
- Applying the concept of patent in the project.
Definitely, Manfield has applied UNSDG 9 Innovation and 10 Reduced Inequalities of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in this project as environmental protection and businesses have been putting together against corruptions in all its forms.
“ The main purpose of the whole project is about UNSDG 9 Innovation.” Mr. Yuen said.
Knowledge can be gained through non-stop trial with a team of people with diversified knowledge. Impacts can also be generated through developing an attitude of openness and a mindset of diversified thinking.
We need to define what to learn - from protecting environment to generating revenue; and from understanding the nature to creating new products/ services with patent for protection.
For example, through working with experts, it is realized that plants can be grown without much water irrigation
New Knowledge is to disrupt traditional thinking.
The project covers a key focus of developing eco-tourism for parents and children to understand desert travel.
"On-line promotion via social media, membership scheme and cooperation with travel agents will be our key promotional channels for the business. " said, Mr. Yuen.
“The target of the new project is to re-forest the desert into one part of the Wuhai Highway which is near to yellow river of China in coming years and a lady staff member, project coordinator of Yip Wai Ping, brings tremendous efforts in this project."
Mr Yuen mentioned that there is a need to re-plant at lowest possible cost, find methods to avoid plants or crops being blown away as water is scarce and costly at high ground. Their team also needs to try to re-plant without irrigation. Cost management, operation of a deforestation project, and methods of learning definitely benefit the society. This relies on professional knowledge despite attempts to learn from local and international experts.
"On-line promotion via social media, membership scheme and cooperation with travel agents will be our key promotional channels for the business. " said, Mr. Yuen.
Understanding the constraints of a desert (the environment) can bring economic value and social value to the community.
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In Asia, management and employees seldom work closely towards a common goal with business and social development opportunities. However, long-term partnership out-weighs short-term benefits. Accommodation of cultural differences can be demonstrated in the project of Malan Lake, a desertification control project of Manfield, Hong Kong.
Accommodation and appreciation on working styles, resources allocation and operation management of a desertification project have been shown between management and staff members of Hong Kong and China. Malan Lake project is more than an environmental project. It is a foundation of knowledge exchange and a platform of knowledge creation for achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) # 9 innovations via #4 quality of education and # 17 partnership for # 8 economic impacts with #5 gender equality. It is not easy for a Hong Kong-based company to work on a large scale and long-term environmental project with potential of eco-tourism and green business for social transformation. Management needs to have a proactive mind and involved stakeholders need to be engaged with professional knowledge.
