The first Scouts to be awarded the new Unesco biosphere award have been presented with their badges.

Beavers, Cubs and Scouts from Castletown, Douglas and Rushen were the first to receive the Biosphere Badge.

The presentation took place at the Scout hut in Drogadfayle Road in Port Erin with the Scouts presented with their new badges by the island’s deputy commissioner Gil Costain-Salway.

The badge was launched in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.

To earn it, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorer Scouts have to undertake challenges relating to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (global goals).

At the launch, Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot said: ’Young people care passionately about the challenges affecting our planet and our island and want to be a big part of the solution. From taking climate action to reducing inequality, the global goals mirror our own actions in the government to contribute to a more sustainable world.’

Gil Costain-Salway added: ’Our island’s Unesco Biosphere status, and our new badge, encourage them to make every effort to do their bit. The Isle of Man is setting the pace for a better, fairer, cleaner world and our scouts are proud to be part of that endeavour.’

Girlguiding Isle of Man also adopted a biosphere badge earlier this year and has so far awarded over 170.