China's top court is considering including more professionals with backgrounds in law and the environment, as well as related training, after it set up tribunals specializing in hearing environmental disputes.

The Supreme People's Court issued a guideline on improving trials involving the environment and resources on July 3, requiring courts, especially in places with complex ecological systems or along basins, to boost judicial groups responsible for environmental cases.

"We must select those who are not only familiar with the law but also with environmental knowledge to enrich our trial team," said Zheng Xuelin, chief judge of the top court's environment and resource department, which was established in June.