Rudong county in Nantong aims to beautify its ecological environment through afforestation. [Photo/rdxmt.com]

Now is widely regarded as a great time for afforestation as everything comes back to life in spring – and a new tree-planting boom has emerged in Rudong county, administered by Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province.

Plans are for Rudong to complete 280 hectares of afforestation in the current year, with some 13 ha of forestland newly added and 267 ha of green land renewed. At present, half of the afforestation work has been finished.

In pursuit of a better ecological environment and cost performance, the county's forestry service station conducted its afforestation in a scientific way – promoting the use of improved varieties and seedlings, to strictly control the quality of the greened land, said Miao Guicheng, director of the station.

Targets have also been set for the county to improve the living environment in rural areas and increase the green coverage of villages.

Rudong will carry out a campaign to beautify its villages. Local, colored and precious trees will be planted next to courtyards, people's houses, public green spaces and idle land, according to different conditions.