北潭凹 Pak Tam Au
生境 Habitats
地點介紹 Site Description
北潭凹是西貢半島中部一個山坳，位於西貢東郊野公園和西貢西郊野公園之間。該地的中部是一塊塊長滿草和灌木的休耕梯田，梯田的北面和南面被山坡包圍,山坡上長滿林木和天然植物，這片林地與西貢東郊野公園的茂林綠野連成一 體。東面的山坡有一條河，向西而下，流經休耕梯田。北潭凹村後的風水林有部分受到干擾，但林中的植物品種也頗多，包括受保護的香港大沙葉 (Pavetta hongkongensis)。
北潭凹屬於郊野公園「不包括土地」，因此不受《郊野公園條例》保護。2015年，該地根據城市規劃條例，休耕梯田大部分（近4.5公頃）被劃作「鄉村發展用地」，用於興建丁屋，將帶來大片生境喪失和污水的問題。
Pak Tam Au is a col at the cental region of Sai Kung Peninsula between Sai Kung East Country Park and Sai Kung West Country Park. In its central part, there are mainly patches of abandoned terrace with a vegetation cover of grasses and shrubs. The northern and southern part of the terrace is surrounded by hillside with trees and native plants. A stream runs from the eastern hillside to the west, passing through the abandoned terraces. Behind the village is a piece of Fung Shui woodland with a high plant diversity, including the protected Hong Kong Pavetta (Pavetta hongkongensis), though a portion of the woodland is disturbed.
Pak Tam Au is a country park 'enclave' which is not under the protection of Country Park Ordinance. In 2015, almost the entire abandoned terrace (close to 4.5 ha) was zoned as "Village Development Area" for the development of New Territories Small Houses, bringing the problems of large-scale habitat loss and sewage to the area.