Ten ecological and environmental cases heard by Chinese courts have been recorded in a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) legal database, according to China's top court.

It is a first for Chinese cases, the Supreme People's Court said Friday.

The published cases cover a number of environmental issues, such as air, water, soil and wildlife, showing how China has strengthened judicial protection of the environment, the court said.

The cases were recorded in accordance with a memorandum of understanding signed by UNEP and the court, in which they agreed to collect and post information on how Chinese courts deal with ecological and environmental cases and share this with other countries, the court said.

The release of cases will help the world understand Chinese judicial work, it said, adding that UNEP is willing to further cooperate and communicate with Chinese courts in environmental hearings.