A former Swiss diplomat has dedicated two decades to rebuilding a rainforest in southwest China's Yunnan Province, transforming a rubber plantation into a green paradise boasting 300 tree species.

The adventure started in 2003, when the former Swiss diplomat Gerard Burgermeister, who is also a biologist, ended his tenure at the Swiss Embassy in China and left Beijing.

He has since been committed to improving biodiversity and created a rainforest on his own in Yunnan's Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, a tropical region that borders Laos and Myanmar.

"It was a rubber plantation, so we had only one species of tree exactly the same. Besides that, those trees are not native. That was the purpose: to transform this piece of 'green desert' into a biodiversity hot spot," said Burgermeister.

He started to collect seeds and seedlings of different species from different sources, such as local rainforests, nurseries and homes, and cultivated them with great patience.

"And also using some tricks. For instance, planting tree species that would grow fast, and then have fruits that attract birds and bats. Then the birds and bats would come from outside and bring seeds," said Burgermeister.

His efforts have paid off. He said that his forest now boasts approximately 300 tree species, more than in his own country.

"This is another wild Ficus tree, (Chinese) Rong Shu. We planted this one, so it's still a small baby. It may be 16 or 17 years old. You see, it's already kind of a little monster," said Burgermeister.

And with the exuberant growth of the forest, it has become home to many more animals.

"At the beginning, there were very few insects. Now, during the rainy season, we have a lot of them. In June, we have a lot of fireflies. In the rubber plantation, there are no fireflies because the soil is not good enough. It doesn't let them live," said Burgermeister.

Burgermeister believed the improved ecology is rewarding in multiple ways. He said the secret behind his successful experiment is perseverance and respect for nature, and that the effort of each individual matters.

"Biodiversity is a treasure that we can also use in the future. If we lose it now, we are losing something that is extremely precious even before we understand it, which is really silly," said Burgermeister.