Dr ZHANG Hao, Allen

Associate Professor

Dr. Allen Zhang studied in the Department of Biology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong as a PhD student. His PhD research project mainly focused on urban ecology in Hong Kong. Before joining the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Dr. Allen Zhang was a post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Geography, HKU. His research projects at HKU mainly focused on urban horticulture and urban forestry. He has published more than 20 articles in the refereed journals, a large portion of these articles have been published in the top tier international refereed journals such as “Urban Forestry and Urban Greening”, “Landscape and Urban Planning”, “Ecological Engineering”, etc.

Dr. Allen Zhang has obtained member of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture UK, professional member of Arboricultural Association UK, and certified arborist of International Society of Arboriculture USA.

QUALIFICATIONS

PhD in Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

MPhil in Botany, South China Agricultural University

BA in Forestry, South China Agricultural University

EMPLOYMENT

2020 – Present, Associate Professor, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi)

2015 – 2019, Assistant Professor, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi)

2014 – 2015, Teaching Fellow, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi)

2012 – 2014, Post-doctoral Fellow, The University of Hong Kong

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

2014, Professional Member, Arboricultural Association UK
2011, Certified Arborist, International Society of Arboriculture USA

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

2019 – Present, Academic Committee Member, Advanced Diploma in Tree Management and Conservation, HKU SPACE
2018 – Present, Assessment Member, Certification Board Member, Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre Certification Limited
2018 – Present, Advisor, Nan Lian Garden Advisory Board, Leisure and Cultural Services Department
2017 – Present, Vice President, Hong Kong Institute of Horticultural Science
2017 – Present, Academic Advisor, Hong Kong Landscape and Arboriculture Professionals General Union
2015 – Present, Expert, External Relation Office, VTC
2016 – Present, Academic Advisor, Hong Kong Greening Contractors Association
2012 – Present, External Advisor, Accredited Arboricultural Practitioners (AAP) Scheme, The Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects

RESEARCH GRANTS

2020-2023, RGC Faculty Development Scheme (FDS), Effects of sewage sludge-Chinese medicinal herbal residue-biochar amendment on antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in agricultural soil and plants, HK$782,942 (Co-PI)
2020-2022, RGC Faculty Development Scheme (FDS), Soil Properties and Microbial Communities in Relation to Tree Performance across Urban Green Space (UGS) Types in Hong Kong, HK$881,426 (PI)
2020-2021, RGC Inter-Institutional Development Scheme (IIDS), Seminar Series on "Finding our way out for our urban forest – the lessons learned from the aftermath after super typhoon", HK$357,290 (Co-PI)
2020-2021, Highways Department, Provision of Services for Brown Root Rot Disease Tests, HK$ 1,000,000 (PI)
2019-2021, Highways Department, Eucalyptus along San Tin Highway – Medium and Long Term Management Proposal, HK$ 1,100,000 (PI)
2019-2020, Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme, Knowledge Exchange Programme for Enhancing Urban Horticulture Industry: Expediting Technologies and Sustainability Mindset Series, HK$321,000 (PI)
2019-2019, RGC Inter-Institutional Development Scheme (IIDS), Seminar on Arboriculture and Sustainable Urban Forest Management, HK$368,603 (PI)
2017-2018, RGC Institutional Development Scheme (IDS), Research on Sustainable Living: Phase Two of the Capacity Building Plan, HK$14,000,000 (as one research manager)
2017-2018, RGC Faculty Development Scheme (FDS), Air Purification and Carbon Sequestration by Urban Park Trees in Hong Kong, HK$823,022 (PI)
2017-2018, ECF Environmental Education and Community Action (EE&CA) Projects, Learning Tree Diversity Programme and Tree Conservation Youth Ambassador Training Workshop, HK$502,261 (PI)
2017-2017, RGC Inter-Institutional Development Scheme (IIDS), Seminar Series on ‘Urban Green Infrastructure – enhancing ecosystem services and biodiversity’, HK$352,000 (Co-PI)
2016-2017, THEi Seed Grant, Ecosystem services of air pollution and carbon sequestration by old and valuable trees in urban Hong Kong, HK$100,000 (PI)
2015-2016, ECF Environmental Education and Community Action (EE&CA) Projects, Urban Tree Conservation and Appreciation, HK$308,228 (PI)
2015-2016, THEi Seed Grant, Plant Community and Soil Properties and Microbial Characteristics in Exotic Plantations in Hong Kong, HK$100,000 (PI)
2014 – 2015, Dongguan Science Bureau International Research Fund, Soil Microbial Communities on Plantations in Dongguan and Hong Kong, HK$220,000 (PI)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

CY Jim, Hao Zhang, Ling Chui Hui, John Parker. 2021. Perceptions of London Tree Officers Towards the Services and Disservices of Urban Greening. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening (Under Review)
Sifeng Wang, Hao Zhang. 2021. Tree composition and diversity in relation to urban park history in Hong Kong, China. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening (Accepted with major review)
N L Chau, CY Jim, Hao Zhang. 2020. Species-specific holistic assessment of tree structure and defects in urban Hong Kong. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening 55:126813
Louis Lee, Hao Zhang, CY Jim. 2020. Urban tree distribution in public housing estates in Hong Kong: current injustice to potential socio-ecological inclusiveness. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening 46:126468
LC Hui, CY Jim, Hao Zhang. 2020. Allometry of urban trees in subtropical Hong Kong and effects of habitat types. Landscape Ecology 35:1143-1160
Po Ying Lai, C.Y. Jim, Hao Zhang. 2020. Heritage trees in Macau: Relationships amongst biomass structure, age and ecosystem services. Arboriculture and Urban Forestry 46:109-134
Yang Xing, Peter Brimblecombe, Sifeng, Wang, Hao Zhang. 2019. Tree distribution, morphology and modelled air pollution in urban parks. Journal of Environmental Management 248:109304
Po Ying Lai, C.Y. Jim, Guang Da Tang, Wen Jun Hong, Hao Zhang. 2019. Pattern and conservation of heritage trees in the rapidly-developed Shenzhen municipality of China. Landscape and Urban Planning 181:148-156
Songsong Liu, Kuixian Chen, Decai Shen, Hao Zhang, Chunlan Su, Linchao Lu. 2018. Impact of thinning on physical and chemical characteristics, soil microorganism and soil enzyme activities on season of Acacia mangiumin in South China. Journal of Central South University of Forestry and Technology 38(2):23-29 (in Chinese).
Hao Zhang. 2018. Hong Kong Ground Cover Plants. New Talents Press, Hong Kong.
Luojian Mo, Kuixian Chen, Weihao Li, Qiuyan Hu, Yanlin Zhang, Hao Zhang. 2017. The effect on species diversity of Eucalyptus urophylla plantation by thinning and interplanted with broad-leaved tree. Journal of Fujian Forestry Sciences and Technology 44(2): 24-32 (in Chinese).
Hao Zhang, Po Ying Lai, C.Y. Jim. 2017. Species diversity and spatial differentiation of old and precious trees in Macau. Landscape and Urban Planning 162: 56-67
Hao Zhang, Luojian Mo, Kuixian Chen, Yongchang Ye, Songsong Liu, Wenjun Hong. 2016. Impact of thinning on physico-chemical properties, soil microorganism biomass, and soil enzyme activities on the season of Hong Kong plantation. Ecology and Environment Sciences 25(12):1937-1944 (in Chinese).
Yongchang Ye, Hao Zhang, Kuixian Chen, Wenjun Hong, Songsong Liu, Luojian Mo. 2016. Early effect of thinning on the natural regeneration and species diversity in transformation of plantations in Hong Kong. Forestry and Environmental Science 32(6): 1-8 (in Chinese).
C.Y. Jim, Hao Zhang. 2015. Urbanization effects on spatial-temporal differentiation of landscape tree communities. Urban Ecosystems doi.10.1007/s11252-015-0455-7 (IF: 2.685)
C.Y. Jim, Hao Zhang. 2015. Effect of habitat traits on structural conditions of trees in private gardens. Landscape Ecology 30: 1207-1223 (IF: 3.500)
Hao Zhang, L.M. Chu. 2015. Seed rain and seedling survival are major factors limiting vegetation regeneration on rehabilitated quarries. Landscape and Ecological Engineering 11: 29-38 (IF: 0.723)
Hao Zhang, C.Y. Jim. 2014. Species diversity and performance assessment of trees in domestic gardens. Landscape and Urban Planning 128: 23-24 (IF: 3.037)
Hao Zhang, C.Y. Jim. 2014. Contributions of landscape trees in public housing estates to urban biodiversity in Hong Kong. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening 13: 272-284 (IF: 2.109)
Hao Zhang, C.Y. Jim. 2013. Species adoption for sustainable afforestation of Hong Kong’s degraded countryside. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology 20: 484-503 (IF: 1.771)
C.Y. Jim, Hao Zhang. 2013. Defect-disorder and risk assessment of heritage trees in urban Hong Kong. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening 12: 585-596 (IF: 2.109)
Hao Zhang, L.M. Chu. 2013. Early development of soil microbial communities on rehabilitated quarries. Restoration Ecology 21:490-497 (IF: 1.838)
C.Y. Jim, Hao Zhang. 2013. Species diversity and spatial differentiation of old-valuable trees in urban Hong Kong. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening 12: 171-182 (IF: 2.109)
Hao Zhang, L.M. Chu. 2013. Changes in soil seed bank composition during early succession of rehabilitated quarries. Ecological Engineering 55:43-50 (IF: 2.580)
Hao Zhang, Xueying Zhuang, L.M. Chu. 2013. Plant recruitment in early development stages on rehabilitated quarries in Hong Kong. Restoration Ecology 21:166-173 (IF: 1.838)
Hao Zhang, L.M. Chu. 2011. Plant community structure, soil properties and microbial characteristics in revegetated quarries. Ecological Engineering 37:1104-1111 (IF: 2.580)
Hao Zhang, L.M. Chu. 2010. Rehabilitation of quarries in Hong Kong. In Proceedings of 2010 International Conference on Environmental Engineering and Applications (ICEEA 2010), S. Baby and Y. Dan. Singapore, 10-12 September, 2010, pp.214-217
Hao Zhang, L.M. Chu, Xueying Zhuang. 2009. Decomposition of leaf litter of four native broad-leaved tree species in South China. Frontiers of Forestry in China 4:450-457.
Yongfang Huang, Maoxun Yang, Hao Zhang, Xueying Zhuang, Xuehui Wu. 2009. Genetic Diversity and Genetic Structure Analysis of the Natural Populations of Lilium brownii from Guangdong, China. Biochemical Genetics 47:503-510. (IF: 0.865)
Hao Zhang, Xueying Zhuang. 2008. The leaf litter decomposition of four native broad-leaved tree species in South China. Acta Ecologica Sinica 28: 2395-2403 (in Chinese)
Hao Zhang, Xueying Zhuang, Yongfang Huang, Zhitian Lai, Shouming Zou, Hanbo He. 2008. Growth of some native broad-leaved trees and plant diversity in the coniferous plantation of South China. Forest Research 21(2): 1-4 (in Chinese).
Han Xu, Xueying Zhuang, Hao Zhang, Yisheng Peng, Zhongjian He. 2007. Interspecific associations of dominant trees in the communities with Tsoongiodendron odorum on Nankunshan. Journal of South China Agricultural University 29(1): 57-62 (in Chinese).
Han Xu, Xueying Zhuang, Jiuxiang Huang, Hao Zhang, Yisheng Peng, Zhongjian He. 2007. Population structure and distribution pattern of Tsoongiodendron odorum on Nankunshan, Guangdong province. Journal of South China Agricultural University 28(2): 73-77 (in Chinese).
Hao Zhang, Xueying Zhuang. 2004. A study on leaf epidermis of some plants of Theaceae. Journal of South China Agricultural University 26(3): 87-93 (in Chinese).
Xueying Zhuang, Yisheng Peng, Hao Zhang. 2004. Triuridaceae-A New Record of the family from Guangdong Province, China. Journal of South China Agricultural University 25(1): 124 (in Chinese).
Xueying Zhuang, Hao Zhang, Yongfang Huang, Hongyue Chen. 2004. Tree species selection and ecological forestry of Guangdong in 21st Century. Guang zhou-Hong Kong –Macao-Taiwan Engineer (Hong Kong) Forum 79-88 (in Chinese).
Hao Zhang, Xueying Zhuang, Yongfang Huang, Haihua Li, Yihui Lin, Tanji Luo. 2003. The early growth of 11 native trees on banded cleaning-up sites. Guangxi Forestry Science 32(2): 77-80 (in Chinese).
Hao Zhang, Jiechang Pan, Guangda Tang, Xueying Zhuang, Huaye Gao. 2002. A preliminary study on floristic diversity and soil water storage capacity of three forest communities at Tianjingshan, Guangdong province. Guangdong Forestry Science and Technology 18(1): 25-30 (in Chinese).

CONFERENCES

Hao Zhang. Urban Tree Structure and Diversity in relation to Park History in Hong Kong. The 6th Fabos Conference on Landscape and Greenway Planning, 28-30 March 2019, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA (Oral presentation)
Hao Zhang. Tree Diversity and Their Ecosystem Services of Urban Parks in Hong Kong. The 30th International Horticultural Congress (IHC2018), 12-16 August 2018, Istanbul, Turkey (Oral presentation)
Hao Zhang. Impact of thinning on physico-chemical properties, soil microorganism biomass, and soil enzyme activities in Hong Kong plantation. The BonaRes 2018 Conference Berlin, Soil as a Sustainable Resource, 26-28 February 2018, Berlin, Germany (Poster presentation)
Hao Zhang. Estimating ecosystem services of air quality improvement and carbon sequestration by heritage trees in Macau. Green Infrastructure: Nature Based Solutions for Sustainable and Resilient Cities, 4-7 April 2017, Orvieto, Italy (Oral presentation)
Hao Zhang, C.Y. JIM. Species composition and tree risk assessment of old-valuable trees in urban Hong Kong. The 1^st Congress of Society for Urban Ecology, 25-27 July 2013, Society for Urban Ecology, Berlin, Germany (Oral presentation).
Hao Zhang, L.M. CHU. Ecological Development of Soil Microbial Communities in Rehabilitated Quarries. The 1^st International Conference of Structures and Processes of the Initial Ecosystem Development & The 4^th Meeting of Young Researchers in Earth Sciences (MYRES), 20-24 September 2010, Brandenburgische Technische Universitat, Cottbus, Germany (Oral presentation).
Hao Zhang, L.M.CHU. Composition and Development of Aboveground Vegetation and Soil Seed Bank in Rehabilitated Quarries in Hong Kong. The 19^th SERI World Conference on Ecological Restoration, 23-27 August 2009, Perth, Western Australia, Australia (Oral presentation).
Hao Zhang, L.M. CHU. Nitrogen mineralization in restored quarries in Hong Kong. The 6^th International Symposium on Ecosystem Behavior BIOGEOMON, June – July 2009, The University of Helsinki, Finland (Poster presentation).
Hao Zhang, L.M. CHU. Soil seed bank composition and development in restored quarries in Hong Kong. The 9^th ISSS Conference on Seed Biology, 6-11 July 2008, Olsztyn, Poland (oral presentation).
Hao Zhang, L.M. CHU. Ecological development of soil microbial community in three restored quarries in Hong Kong. The 9^th Student Conference on Conservation Science, 25-27 March 2008, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK (poster presentation).

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Urban Horticulture
Urban Forestry and Urban Greening
Landscape Ecology
Restoration Ecology