Wuyi Mountain, covering an area of about 1,000 square kilometers, has the largest nature reserve in Fujian province. [Photo/VCG]

The forest coverage rate of East China's Fujian province has reached 66.8 percent, and it has had the highest rate in China for the past 40 years. Its natural environment, as well as water and air quality, are also among the best in the country, Xiamen Daily reported on Nov 25.

In recent years, the province has been attaching great importance to the development of an "ecological civilization", and has invested 318 million yuan ($45.24 million) into afforestation and greening projects in villages since the beginning of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020). It has afforested 48,200 mu (3213.33 hectares) of land in rural areas so far.

The province is expected to establish 346 national-level and 500 provincial-level forest villages by the end of this year. According to statistics, a total of 10 prefectural-level cities in Fujian have invested 74.4 billion yuan into promoting the construction of forest villages, with Xiamen alone spending three billion yuan on afforestation.

To improve the rural living environment, the province is working to create forests and preserve old trees and well-known tree species, which has greatly improved the environment in many villages.