Bay of Plenty Regional Council is seeking environmentally conscious students to represent the region.

Three students will be selected from around the region to represent the Bay of Plenty at the annual Sir Peter Blake Youth EnviroLeaders Forum in Auckland in April.

EnviroLeaders from the 2010 Bay of Plenty team working on ideas to reduce waste.

The council's education team leader Kerry Gosling says the forum is a great opportunity for Year 12 students to work with other students and professionals to help shape a sustainable future for New Zealand.

'These forums bring together some amazing future leaders across a range of environmental interests,” says Kerry.

'Participants are passionate about some aspect of the environment and really enjoy being with like-minded people.

'They also relish the environmental challenges they're presented with and enjoy the opportunity to work on solutions together.”

Last year's students looked at water quality and conservation, energy efficiency, and waste minimisation.

This is the eighth annual EnviroLeaders forum and the first to be held in Auckland.

The programme is being finalised by the Ministry for the Environment and the Sir Peter Blake Trust.

A maximum of 48 students from around the country will be invited to attend it, April 17-21.

The students' travel, food and accommodation are fully sponsored by the Ministry for the Environment.

To apply, students should contact the social sciences head of department at their school or for more information, visit www.sirpeterblaketrust.org/environment/youth_environment_forum or www.boprc.govt.nz

Applications close Friday, March 4.