Registration is now open for the Louisiana Envirothon environmental competition, which will be held on March 9 at the LSU Ag Center Burden Center in Baton Rouge.

The Louisiana Envirothon is an environmental problem-solving competition for students in grades 6 through 12. Teams train and compete by demonstrating their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management.

The competition focuses on five natural resource areas: soils and land use, aquatic resources, forestry, wildlife, and a current environmental issue. The 2013 current environmental issue is Sustainable Rangeland Management. Teams also present a solution to an environmental problem related to the current issue through an oral presentation.

Envirothon is open to students in grades 6 through 12 who register as teams of five members. Students can be from the same school or associated with an organized group such as a Science Club, Future Farmers of America or 4-H.

The program is designed to be fun and to allow participants a hands-on opportunity to learn more about protecting and working within natural resources. The competition fosters critical thinking, cooperative problem solving and decision making skills. Winners receive special recognition and monetary prizes, and may represent Louisiana in the North American Envirothon Competition.

For more information on the Envirothon, to register or if you would like to help sponsor the event, please go to www.deq.louisiana.gov/envirothon and like us on Facebook.