EUROPARC Webinar „Living Dark Landscapes“

Dark Sky Parks offer a unique blend of environmental, educational, and cultural value. They serve as crucial habitats for wildlife, fostering biodiversity by preserving natural rhythms that are disrupted by artificial light. In addition, they provide an exceptional opportunity to experience pristine night skies, free from light pollution, allowing for stunning astronomical views.

Dark Sky Parks promote awareness of light pollution and its impacts, serving as platforms for outreach and community engagement. Culturally, these parks often become focal places for storytelling and traditions related to the night, enriching local heritage. Ultimately, Dark Sky Parks stand as beacons for sustainability, encouraging responsible tourism and conservation efforts that benefit both nature and human well-being.

Yet, dark skies are increasingly rare in our modern world, where artificial lighting permeates urban and rural landscapes alike. Light pollution not only obscures our view of the stars but also disrupts natural ecosystems, affecting wildlife behaviours and migratory patterns.

Becoming a certified Dark Sky Park involves a series of steps aimed at demonstrating commitment to protecting the night sky and reducing light pollution. In this webinar, organised by EUROPARC’s Taskforce for NRL Parks, you are invited to join us on a journey from the Northern Hemisphere to dive into the cultural value of dark skies, to the Nature Park Our in Luxembourg where we will learn about pragmatic light solutions implemented in the municipality of Putscheid. We will continue to dive into national and local initiatives on dark skies in France. Finally, we will share information on the processes and benefits of becoming an International Dark Sky Community.

Even if you don’t aim to become a certified dark sky park, this webinar provides pragmatic solutions to improve lighting as well as inspirations for joint activities, that can be implemented in any other Protected Area or Park.

Join this webinar to learn more on existing initiatives and the International Dark Sky Certifications.

Webinar Programme

Welcome and Facilitation

Marit Schnepf, EUROPARC Federation, Kristian Bjørnstad, Norske Parker

How and why raising awareness about light pollution in Nature Parks

Manon Rieutord, Agir pour l’Environnement.
Restoration of dark skies can have positive impacts on nature, biodiversity and people. Manon Rietord from the French NGO Agir pour l’Environnement, will introduce national initiatives in France (Le Jour de la Nuit for instance) and two examples of Nature Parks, which have implemented new light policies and how it changed their territories.

Illuminating what’s needed, how it’s needed, when it’s needed

Daniel Gliedner, Nature Park Our, Luxembourg.
How can we minimize light pollution in our areas? With the example of the municipality of Putscheid, Luxemburg, Daniel Gliedner from the Nature Park Our, will showcase the path they have already taken and insights into their current candidature as an IDSC, International Dark Sky Community.

The Dark Sky International certifications

Jean-François Graffand, DarkSky France Association.
Jean-François Graffand from the DarkSky Association in France will share insights into the DarkSky International certification program for Protected Areas and Parks around the world. He will present the steps and processes to be taken for a Park, and illustrates the benefits through the example of the „International Dark Sky Reserves“ certification which is very well received among Natural Parks in France.

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It only takes a minute, it’s interesting, open and free 🙂