Arborist nurtures Fujian's natural assets

Before the howling wind and heavy rainfall brought on by typhoons sweep into Xiamen, Fujian province, Yu Yanling goes to work. While others seek shelter, the 34-year-old straps on a harness, checks her ropes, and ascends into the chaos of the canopy.

She is a professional arborist, certified by the International Society of Arboriculture, and is among a small group of people doing this work across the country.

Her job is part tree surgeon, part urban protector. She works with major parks and botanical gardens. During typhoon season, her busiest time of year, Yu spends entire days hanging in the canopy, trimming branches so trees and the people below can ride out the storm safely.

Sometimes she assists researchers, climbing into dense branches to gently retrieve chicks, fit them with trackers, and return them to their nests.

And occasionally, she helps tourists retrieve drones stuck in treetops.

Her team is often called in for jobs that standard equipment, like bucket trucks or pole saws, simply can't handle.