By Yan Zhao and Catherine Lai
Hong Kong’s beloved kapok trees are not thriving as they once did, drawing concern from conservationists who see it as a sign that nature is falling out of sync as the climate warms.
Known locally as “hero trees” for their majestic appearance, kapok attract a large number of photographers each spring when their bright red flowers bloom on bare branches.
But that contrast has faded in recent years as leaves that should have been shed during the winter settle down as the seasons change, worrying researchers.
“The kapok trees we see now very often have flowers and leaves at the same time,” said Lam Chiu-ying, former director of the Hong Kong Observatory.
“In some places, half the tree is covered with green leaves and the other half with red flowers.”
Kapok, also known as the red silk-cotton tree, is native to tropical and subtropical Asia, including southern China.
The change in their spring appearance has “become increasingly common” over the past decade due to warming winters caused by climate change, Lam told AFP.
Hong Kong has just recorded its warmest winter on record, with the average temperature from December to February reaching 19.3 °C, two degrees above normal, according to the Observatory.
Angie Ng, an ecologist and conservation manager at local NGO The Conservancy Association, said the trees appeared to be blooming about two weeks earlier than usual this year, likely due to climate factors such as temperature and humidity.
Trees must divert resources to maintain both old leaves and new flowers, which can result in fewer blooms, she said.
Disruption can have detrimental effects on wildlife, as the flowers provide nectar for birds and pollen for bees.
“Ecological processes work like an intricate web,” says Ng.
“When the timing of animals and plants is misaligned, it can cause ripple effects that affect not only the animals that depend on those plants, but also wider ecological chains.”
