An ecological research center was recently established in Chongqing Municipality directly under the Central Government in Southwest China to strengthen the environmental protection of the Three Gorges Dam area.

The center was set up by six Chongqing-based institutions including Chongqing University and the Chongqing Environmental Science Research Institute. It has six experimental labs which will monitor the ecological conditions in the dam area, map out plans to combat water pollution and study the relationship between the environment and health.