The text was drafted by David Welch and benefited from comments by group members.

 

The following is a revised version of that statement.

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Our statement

We are creatures of light, but in recent centuries our technology has enabled us to push back the frontier of darkness, extending our work and leisure time well into the hours of twilight and darkness. We tend to forget, however, that ecosystems and wild species operate 24/7. They have evolved to cope with, depend on, and take advantage of natural darkness. A night sky without artificial light is therefore vital to the proper functioning of natural ecosystems. Artificial lighting affects species migration patterns, predator-prey relationships, and the circadian rhythms of many organisms, to name just a few of the consequences of light pollution. Natural darkness is also essential to a full appreciation of our surroundings, to satisfy curiosity, to appreciate our  environment in all its facets, and to preserve our diverse cultural integrity. However, compared to climate change, acid rain, exotic species, habitat destruction, and other stresses, the need for natural darkness and the impacts of artificial lighting are often overlooked when considering and protecting biodiversity and our appreciation of the natural world and our cultural heritage.

In fact, there are at least nine reasons to reduce light pollution and protect a natural night sky. They go beyond protected areas and sites, touching upon appropriate design and land development control policies.

•     To preserve the ecological integrity of natural environments;

•     To ensure the full enjoyment of a wilderness experience;

•     To appreciate the integrity, character, and beauty of urban and rural landscapes;

•     To protect the commemorative integrity (authenticity) of cultural sites and monuments;

•     To preserve cultural traditions that relate to celestial mythologies, navigation, and other aspects;

•     To protect human health, both medical and psychological;

•     To contribute to energy efficiency;

•     To facilitate both scientific and amateur astronomy; and

•     To improve personal security through non-glare lighting in urban areas.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recognizes the importance of natural darkness to the ecological integrity of protected areas, and to the sustainability of healthy lives in healthy cities. In order to advance this recognition, the Dark Skies Advisory Group was established in early 2009 within the Cities and Protected Areas Specialist Group of IUCN's World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA). The Dark Skies Advisory Group encourages protected areas and local communities to embrace the concept and the many values of dark skies. Web searches using terms like dark skies, dark sky preserve, scotobiology, ecology of the night, starlight reserves, and light pollution abatement will quickly reveal many useful and comprehensive web sites. The Advisory Group does not try to replicate these. Rather, our aims are to note the IUCN endorsement of dark skies and provide summaries of, and signposts to, further information.

For IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature:

David Welch, Chair, Dark Skies Advisory Group;

Ted Trzyna, Leader, Cities and Protected Areas Specialist Group; and

Nik Lopoukhine, Chair, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas.

9/2009