A forest carbon sequestration project started in Beijing's Badaling Forest on Thursday.

Forest carbon sequestration is a process in which green plants purify air by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The process reduces the effects of greenhouse gases and slows down climate change.

As the first endeavor of its kind in China, the project is expected to absorb an extra 35,800 tons of carbon - or 131,300 tons of carbon dioxide - from the region, Beijing Youth Daily reports.

According to Wang Xiaoping, an official with the Beijing Forestry Society, there are currently more than 600,000 mu - or 400 million square meters - of woodlands that need overhauling in Beijing. However, there aren't enough funds to carry out the work.

He hoped more people would participate in the project since forest carbon sequestration benefits all of mankind.