THEME
#1 SCIENTIFIC AND BIOLOGICAL INTERESTS
Symposium lectures
by Tony Bidwell, Bryant Buchanan and Sharon Wise, Joan Roberts,
and Stephen Lockley as well as the Lake St. Nora experiment together
presented very convincing evidence that the quality of darkness
has considerable impact on the natural world.
Participants
heard about disruptions to organisms, ecosystems, and ecological
functions that result from light pollution. Interference with the
circadian rhythms of all living things was perhaps the most alarming
impact of the oversaturation of light in the night sky.
Concerns were
expressed about the effect of light pollution on the balance of
nature through its impact upon such processes as pollination and
the delicate aspects of the food web. The loss of natural adaptedness
to the dark was cited as a true loss in terms of biodiversity.
From a different
perspective, participants mentioned the high cost, environmentally
and socially, of generating energy to light up the night sky. No
matter the source — fossil fuels and hydroelectricity or nuclear
power — the expense in "lighting up the bottoms of birds"
seemed to those present to be excessive and often unnecessary.
Participants
in this group cited the importance of diversity of environmental
conditions that leads to resource partitioning and greater biodiversity.
Some processes can only occur during darkness (e.g. rest, repair,
celestial navigation, predation, charging of systems). From the
research shared at the symposium, it was clear that darkness has
the identical and complementary functional importance as daylight.
It is necessary for the healthy functioning of organisms and ecosystems.
When confronted
by the question about what issues should be addressed in this area,
participants indicated that much more research is needed on the
effects of light pollution to demonstrate the importance of the
issue.
Public and government
awareness would have to be heightened around the value of protection,
prevention and reduction of this particular type of pollution. Public
perceptions would need to be shifted with respect to light trespass
and "second hand " light, the waste of too much night
lighting and the importance of using the right lighting for the
right situation.
Most participants
felt that legislation would have to be developed to encourage and
require dark sky friendly lighting through by-laws, altered engineering
standards and building codes.
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Participants
Tony Bidwell
Heather Kaye
John Riley
Al Sinclair
Bryan Buchanan
Sharon Wise
Michael Mesure
Jan McDonnell
Bob Bowles
Don Williams
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Moderator
Don McCormick
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Recorder
Donna
Ried
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