Page 1 of 15

The dark side of parksWhy and how should natural darkness be

managed in protected areas?

David Welch

Chair, Dark Skies Advisory Group (IUCN)

Starlight workshop, 09-10 November 2009

Page 2 of 15

9 reasons to combat light pollution

Ecological integrityCommemorative integrityAstronomy, scientific and

amateurCulture, mythology and ceremonyEnergy efficiencyWilderness experiencePreserving landscape beautyHuman healthSafety and security

PAPA

PA

PAPA

HSHSHS

SSSI

And which apply most to protected areas and sites

PA : Protected Area, park, reserveHS : Historic Site, cultural monumentSSSI : Site of Special Scientific Interest

Page 3 of 15

IUCN protected area classes

I Strict protection:1a Strict Nature Reserve;1b Wilderness Area.

II Ecosystem conservation and recreation (National Park).III Conservation of natural features (Natural Monument).IV Conservation through active management

(Habitat/Species Management Area).V Landscape/seascape conservation and recreation

(Protected Landscape/Seascape).VI Sustainable use of natural ecosystems (Managed

Resource Protected Area).

Enables comparisons across jurisdictions with different nomenclature.Underscores the diversity of protected areas.Can dark sky parks learn from this?

Page 4 of 15

Dark sky park classes?

A proposal to start discussion

I Starlight reserves in the sense of the world heritage initiative, contemporary astronomical sites of special scientific interest (world significance).

II Sites and areas with outstanding values that include darkness, e.g. historic and archaeological astronomy sites, or critical habitats for sensitive species.

III Sites and areas of local, regional and national significance for astronomy, both amateur and scientific.

IV Sites and areas where natural darkness is critical to EI and CI.V Urban and peri-urban parks with sky glow but without glare

and which maintain interpretive and outreach programmes about light pollution abatement.

Page 5 of 15

Dark sky management in protected areas

What does being a dark sky park imply?

• Management policies in place to set light pollution objectives.

• Outdoor lighting standards.

• Darkness monitoring appropriate to the dark sky class.

• Scotobiology research, monitoring and science outreach.

• Community outreach programmes to abate light pollution in the viewshed.

• Visitor activity programmes, e.g.: star parties; night sky talks; scotobiology talks and hikes; travelling planetaria; audio-visual presentations; static displays.

Page 6 of 15

Canadian national park zones

Restricted access

No facilitiesMost of a park's area

Controlled motor accessPrimitive facilities

Motorized access

Buildings, roads

Special Preservation

Wilderness

Natural Environment

Outdoor recreation

Park Services

I

II

III

IV

V

Page 7 of 15

Lighting zones for protected areas?

I No in situ lighting, no glare, no significant sky

glow for science.

II No in situ lighting, no glare, no significant sky

glow for amateurs.

III No in situ lighting, no glare.

IV Limited in situ lighting; conforming to outdoor

lighting standards and bylaws.

V Non-conforming, i.e. permitted exceptions to be

addressed through ongoing management.

A proposal to assist dark sky park establishment and management

Page 8 of 15

What’s in a name, and does it matter?

Starlight reserve

Dark sky park

Dark sky reserve

Dark sky preserve

International dark sky preserve

Other?

Page 9 of 15

IUCN Dark Skies Advisory Group

Organizational relationshipInternational Union for Conservation of Nature

World Commission on Protected AreasCities and Protected Areas Specialist Group

Objectives• Pool of expertise related to protected areas, biodiversity

and public enjoyment. • Advice to IUCN members.• Advice to the IUCN Secretariat in regards to related

World Heritage studies and nominations.• Advice to other bodies on behalf of the IUCN.• Promotion of dark skies as an integral component of

protected area management.

Page 10 of 15

IUCN Dark Skies Advisory Group members

George Davis, South African National Biodiversity InstituteMaguelonne Déjeant-Pons, Council of EuropeEduardo Fayos-Solà, World Tourism OrganizationIstván Gyarmathy, Hortobágy National Park, HungaryJohn Hearnshaw, University of Canterbury, New ZealandDan Laffoley, Natural EnglandTravis Longcore, The Urban Wildlands Group, USACipriano Marin, UNESCO Starlight Initiative, SpainChad Moore, National Park Service, USAJuan José Negro, Doñana Biological Station, SpainErika Pogačnik, International Association for Dark Sky ParksClive Ruggles, IAU Working Group on Astronomy and World HeritageNeil Sinden, Campaign to Protect Rural EnglandTed Trzyna, IUCN Cities and Protected Areas Specialist GroupJohn Waugh, Semaphore Inc., USADavid Welch, Chair, Dark Skies Advisory Group, IUCN

Page 11 of 15

IUCN Dark Skies Advisory Group action plan

• Advice to: Starlight initiative; world heritage proposals; other bodies• Web site to show endorsement of dark skies concepts

Home page: general introduction and links to the following possibilities, each equivalent to 2-3 pages, in turn linking to selected existing web sites.

• Dark sky rationale, with focus on protected areas and conservation.• Ecological consequences of artificial lighting.• Darkness and sky glow measurement and monitoring systems.• Lighting guidelines for protected areas.• Park visitor activity and learning programmes.• Outreach and education programmes.• Case studies of dark sky preserves (see below).• Case studies of ecosystem conservation light pollution abatement programmes.• Case studies of community-based dark sky programmes.• IUCN DSAG profile.• Selected references and web links.• Upcoming conferences and related events.

Page 12 of 15

Towards a world list of dark sky preserves

A proposal for discussion

• Country

• Name

• Location (central latitude and longitude)

• Constituent sites and areas

• Management jurisdiction

• Recognizing body (or self-declared?)

• Date of recognition

• Web site or other appopriate link

Page 13 of 15

Sample listing

Canada

Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve

53.5849, -112.8765

Elk Island National Park,

Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area

Parks Canada Agency,

Alberta Parks and Protected Areas

Royal Astronomical Society of Canada

2006

Web site: www.rasc.ca/lpa/beaverhills.shtml

Country

Name

Lat/long

Constituents

Management

Recognition

Date

Web link

Page 14 of 15

Summary

Reasons for natural darkness in protected areas

Potential dark sky park classes and zones

Management tools

Naming and listing

DSAG roles and action plan

Page 15 of 15

Discussion topics for expert meeting session 2

• Criteria for dark sky preserves/starlight reserves, regardless of world heritage status.

• Case studies.

• Management practices for all parks and reserves, e.g. outdoor lighting standards.

• Promotion of scotobiology/ecology of the night research.

• Interpretive and educational opportunities.

• Community outreach using protected area values to help reduce sky glow and glare sources.

• Procedures for delivering advice on behalf of the IUCN.

• Prospects for World Heritage proposals.

• DSAG action plan items.