pbc importance for nesting one of highest in the state for diso many disos attributed to skyglow...
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Turtles, Tattoos, Totes and Telescopes
Palm Beach County’s Sea Turtle Education and Dark Sky Awareness
Campaign
Palm Beach County = nesting density
0 50 100 150 200 250
Nassau
Duval
St. John's
Flagler
Volusia
Brevard
Indian River
St. Lucie
Martin
Palm Beach
Broward
Miami-Dade
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000
Nassau
Duval
St. John's
Flagler
Volusia
Brevard
Indian River
St. Lucie
Martin
Palm Beach
Broward
Miami-Dade
PBC -~26% of FL nesting (19,500) 30% of leatherback (500) 25% of green (3,700) 21% of loggerhead (15,300)
Central and SE Florida- 90% of sea turtle nesting in the US
Loggerhead
Leatherback
Palm Beach County
• 1.3 Million people (1 hatchling/person/year) • Transient coastal population• Tourism critical component of economy• Constantly educating people• Repeat Message• Repeat Message• Repeat Message• Repeat Message• Repeat Message• Repeat Message• Repeat Message
Welcome to our world
Probable Cause of Disorientation Palm Beach County 2011
Parking Lot2%
Sky glow45%
Condo Exterior18%
Condo Interior12%
No Lights Observed17%
Too Many1%
Condo Exterior2%
Restaurant/Bar1%
Condo Interior1%
Single Family Home Exterior1%
62% No Specific Lights
Sky Glow
• Looking West from Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach, Florida • Sea Turtle Lighting Ordinance controls lighting 600 feet west of the
mean high water line but development extends 10-15 miles inland• Need to educate inland residents• Advocate for darker skies
Palm Beach (Southeast)
WPB (South)
Port West
“Of all the pollution we face, light pollution is perhaps the most easily remedied. Simple changes in lighting design and installation yield immediate changes in the amount of light spilled into the atmosphere and, often, immediate energy savings.” - National Geographic article Our Vanishing Night by Verlyn Klinkenborg
“It is estimated that only around 10 percent of the population of the United States is able to see the night sky in its natural, unpolluted state.”
– National Park Service
What to Do About It?
Join with astronomy and bird conservation communities
Educate about loss of night sky Point out wildlife and human impacts Economics Green initiatives Provide alternatives Regulate
50 Beach Access Signs$2,650
24,000 Tattoos$2,520
2,000 Stickers$2,040
1,000 Totes$2,250
15 Bus Wraps“Moving billboard”
$1,950
27,000+ msgs
$11,000
Trying to reach 1.3 M people
Brochures Distributed: 19,500
Post Cards Sent to Coastal Properties Annually: 750
Other formats:• Web• Flickr• YouTube• Radio shows• Newspaper articles• TV news• TV PSA ads
Repeat MessageRepeat MessageRepeat MessageRepeat MessageRepeat MessageRepeat MessageRepeat Message
Next:• Expand the campaign; broader audience; grow advocates • Astronomy and Birding Community • Dark Sky Festival
• “The City Dark” Movie Screening (Feb 22, Eckerd College)• Exhibits- Lighting Design Firms, Env Groups,
International Dark Sky Association, Panel Discussion, Star Party• Dark Sky land development ordinances (unincorp PBC, Boca Raton)
Be a part of Earth Hour March 31, 2012
Turn off lights for 1 hour at 8:30pm. Check out those stars!Spread the word in your community.
Additional Resources
www.need-less.org.uk/www.darksky.org/
www.earthhour.comwww.thecitydark.comwww.nature.nps.gov/air/lightscapes/
THANK YOU!
Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Managementwww.pbcgov.org/erm 561-233-2400