Storyline: Local rangers in Xinjiang's Tumxuk City have been digging canals to divert seasonal floodwaters for forest irrigation in preparation for the seeding season of Euphrates poplar trees. The city has organized nearly 100 rangers for the project, which aims to channel water from the Yarkant River into the Euphrates poplar forests, allowing the seeds to sieze on a critical window for germination. Euphrates poplar seeds have a life cycle of only 20 to 30 days. With sufficient water, they can sprout within 24 hours. However, if they lose moisture, they quickly lose viability. Running through the Tarim Basin, the 1,289-km-long Yarkant River is the most flood-prone river in China's Xinjiang. The canals will not only help expand tree populations, but will also mitigate flood pressure. Euphrates poplar seeds are minuscule. Rangers must be familiar with the distribution of the seed-shedding trees and accurately time the irrigation to ensure the seeds get water at the right moment. "We are increasing the intensity and expanding the coverage of irrigation to ensure the seeds effectively contact the soil and quickly grow into young Euphrates poplar trees," said Jiang Xiaojin, a forest ranger in Tumxuk's Hai'an township. Tumxuk City is located on the northwestern edge of China's largest desert, the Taklimakan Desert. Plans are underway to irrigate 280,000 18,667 hectares of natural Euphrates poplar forest, with the project expected to be completed by the end of September. Shotlist: Tumxuk City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China - Recent: 1. Aerial shots of Populus euphratica forest; forest rangers digging canals 2. Various of forest rangers working; water running 3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Jiang Xiaojin, forest ranger: "We are increasing the intensity and expanding the coverage of irrigation to ensure the seeds effectively contact the soil and quickly grow into young Euphrates poplar trees." 4. Various of Populus euphratica; tree seeds 5. Aerial shots of Populus euphratica forest. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]