The Outline for National Eco-Environmental Protection promulgated by the State Council in 2000 advocates the energetic establishment of eco-provinces, eco-cities, eco-counties and townships. These eco-areas, whose purpose is regional sustainable development, should simultaneously promote economic development, social progress and environmental protection in a unified way. Eco-designated localities should strengthen environmental protection and ecological construction, promote awareness, protect and improve the environment whilst also developing eco-industry and economy and enhancing the quality of life.Today, trial eco-province construction is being carried out in 14 provinces, including Hainan, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Fujian, Zhejiang, Shandong and Anhui.

The Chinese government is constantly strengthening guidance and management over its ecological program and expanding trial ecological areas. By the end of 2005, the number of examined and approved state-level trial eco-areas totaled 166.