We're delighted to announce a partnership with Scouting Ireland to offer young people the chance to earn a Dublin Bay Biosphere badge for actions which help protect our beautiful biosphere. Although this is a scouting initiative the scheme will also be open to schools and clubs who want to get involved.

The programme will officially launch early in the year to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Programme, but we're so excited by this opportunity we wanted to share it with you now!

It's vitally important to us, the Dublin Bay Biosphere Partnership, that young people are given the chance to shape the future of our bay and to help in it's protection and we're blessed to have so many brilliant young people willing to roll their sleeves up and get involved.

To earn the badge (and certificate) you will need to complete a five step programme, as follows:

* Immerse yourself in nature, spend at least 1 hour using your senses to experience our amazing biosphere.

* Spend two hours identifying the species around you, using nature swatches, sea shell guide etc. or link up with a local experts...

* Discover unique features and habitats of your chosen area, what are mans impacts? Make a map of the location for your study and add reference points

* Make a preservation and conservation action plan and undertake your action (undertaken in partnership with local biodiversity officers or park rangers)

* Log your actions on the better world website

63rd Dublin/14th Port Donabate Sea Scouts identification exercise