At a tree-planting base in Beijing's Huairou District, Peng Minglang, a resident, is pruning branches and maintaining trees.

He is one of many who applied online to conduct volunteering work revolving around trees.

"In recent years, the Internet has popularized tree-planting in Beijing, enabling people to come and plant trees, learn about plants, and donate money for tree planting," said Li Tao with the Capital Greening Office.

The base in Huairou, covering 750 mu (50 hectares), was set up in October last year. It serves as a tool for the public to volunteer for tree-planting services both online and offline.

"The way of voluntary tree planting changes with time. People nowadays not only literally plant trees but maintain trees in various forms," said Cui Shangwu, deputy head of the Huairou Gardening and Greening Bureau.

"Planting and trimming trees is our way of protecting the environment, and I also find great pleasure in it," Peng said.

According to the bureau, the public has welcomed the base. More than 3,000 residents have participated in activities such as tree planting, maintenance, and trimming.

The enthusiasm of residents in planting trees and their awareness of protecting the ecological environment have been enhanced. "As a resident, I'm delighted to see Beijing getting greener, and more people are joining in tree planting," Peng added.

According to the Capital Greening Office, over 100 million people in Beijing have joined in tree planting, and about 210 million trees have been planted in the past four decades.

"From 1980 to 2020, the forest coverage in Beijing rose from 12.83 percent to 44.4 percent, with forest stock totaling 25.2 million cubic meters," Li Tao said.

"Over the past 40 years, the greening has reached many urban and rural public areas, workplaces, and communities. With all this, people living at a rapid pace can be comforted by surrounding greenery," Li said.

"Either planting trees in person or getting involved via the Internet comes with its essence of developing a greener world and advancing ecological civilization," Li added.

Currently, there are 25 such tree-planting bases in Beijing, the most of its kind in China. All of them are open to activities related to trees all year round, the Capital Greening Office said.

China launched the voluntary tree-planting campaign in 1981. Through decades of afforestation, China's forest coverage rate has risen from 12 percent in the early 1980s to 23.04 percent currently, said Liu Dongsheng, deputy director of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

"As a senior citizen, I'm particularly interested in singing and walking in parks nearby while appreciating natural views. There is more and more greenery in Beijing, and the environment is constantly improving. I feel very comfortable living in this city," said Wang Zhongshen, a 71-year-old resident of Xicheng District in Beijing.