Migrating birds, forests thriving in China's coastal city (6)

Flocks of wading birds gather at Tiaozini wetland in Dongtai city, Yancheng city, East China's Jiangsu province, in Feb 2023. [Photo by Sun Jialu/for chinadaily.com.cn]

"The history of afforestation dates back to 1965 when a forest farm was established. At first, we could only plant saline-alkaline tolerant trees such as locust trees on the coastal area. But generations after with improved soil, the park is filled with towering trees, dominated by metasequoia and ginkgo," said Lin Tongyue, a staff member at the Yellow Sea Forest Park management center.

Covering a total area of 68,000 acres, with a forest coverage rate of over 85 percent, the park now is home to the largest man-made forest in the eastern China. Afforestation continues today with 100,000 saplings planted every year.