The three provinces in northeast China jointly launched a network to monitor regional eco-environment status and changes on Monday.

This is the first inter-province network on unified monitoring of eco-environment in China.

The network covers Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, which share similar ecological and environmental conditions and are liable to similar natural disasters.

It is of great significance to keep ecological balance in northeast China and the northeast Asia as well, said Wang Jiangshan, director of the Liaoning Provincial Meteorological Bureau.

The network will put under surveillance regional water, soil, atmosphere, biology as well as weather and ecological situation at major spots in the three provinces.

Regions with typical ecological changes such as the Greater and Lesser Hinggan Mountains and swamps at the Liaohe River will also be covered by the network.

Useful information based on surveillance and analysis will be made public or provided to local governments for reference.

(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2004)