The Commission has actively helped to promote and given preliminary support to institutions which would fulfil an independent and complementary role in ecological and environment matters.

The Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology (GUIDE) has been promoted in Bhuj in collaboration with the Jacob Blaustein Institute of Desert Research in Israel. It is being developed into a center of excellence backed by appropriate research as well as communication and reprographic facilities. GUIDE undertook an in-depth study of the process of desertification in Kachchh and Banaskantha covering trends in climate, groundwater, vegetation and agricultural patterns as well as demographic features. Its areas of work also cover issues like restoration of grasslands, water harvesting and drought proofing.

Gujarat Ecological Society (GES) has been set up in Vadodara to ensure wider participation and has greater flexibility in its functioning. It involves itself in short term studies which would strengthen activities in broad areas like bio-diversity or specific matters like surveys of coastal and marine environment.