Partnerships to Protect Night Skies

Working Together to Protect Night Skies in National Parks

IES Illuminating Engineering SocietyThe National Park Service (NPS) Night Skies Program has partnered with h the North American Illuminating Engineering Society to promote a shared understanding of the importance of the natural night sky and the effects of light on national park resources and values including wildlife, cultural resources and values, wilderness character, and visitor experience and enjoyment of these same resources. As part of this partnership, NPS and IES will work to develop voluntary consensus based American National Standards Institute standards for outdoor lighting that addresses natural and cultural resource protection while also maintaining a safe nighttime environment for park staff and visitors. Gateway communities have a need for the same standards and best practices developed by the NPS and IES. These materials are available on our website to communities, counties, and states. In addition, this partnership encourages the mutual exchange of information and participation of NPS personnel in IES technical committee activities and provides opportunities for dissemination and publication of related research. Currently the IES Outdoor Nighttime Environment Committee, of which NPS Night Skies Program staff is a member, is addressing a range of issues related to outdoor lighting best practices, lighting in sensitive environments, and the impacts on the natural environment.

DS Dark Sky
The NPS Night Skies Program and Dark Sky have worked closely for nearly two decades to promote the stewardship of night sky resources, best management practices for fully sustainable outdoor lighting, and enjoyment of the night sky. The Dark Sky Places certification program has been tremendously successful in raising awareness about the importance of protecting naturally dark skies, including retrofitting lights that are friendly for nocturnal wildlife, human health, and astronomy viewing. To date there are dozens of National Park units with Dark Sky Place certification. In 2007, Natural Bridges National Monument became the world’s first certified International Dark Sky Park, recognizing its exceptional commitment to dark sky preservation and restoration. Further, NPS and Dark Sky regularly share knowledge regarding advancements in light pollution research, measurement and monitoring techniques, and education/outreach opportunities. The NPS Night Skies Program is currently active within the Dark Sky Technical Committee and Dark Sky Places committee.

DLC Design Lights Consortium
The NPS and DLC are working together to raise awareness about the impacts of light pollution, and to promote the development of high quality, energy efficient lighting products which minimize obtrusive wasted light. The DLC, an independent nonprofit organization, provides decision makers with data and resources on quality lighting, controls, and integrated building systems to reduce energy, carbon, and light pollution. DLC envisions a net-zero future where lighting, controls, and integrated building systems enable energy savings, decarbonization, and sustainability for all people and the environment. The NPS served on DLC’s technical advisory committee providing input on the development of LUNA, a program designed to certify lighting products which meet strict requirements to minimize light pollution. Additionally, NPS and DLC collaborate on outreach and education efforts to industry and the public.

Colorado Plateau and Basin & Range Dark Sky Cooperatives
The Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative (CPDSC) was born out of the National Park Service Starry Starry Night Call to Action initiative to establish America’s first Dark Sky Cooperative. In 2012, the CPDSC was established with major support from the Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division (NSNSD) and in partnership with the University of Utah Dark Sky Studies Minor, the Gateway and Natural Amenity Region Initiative, and the Utah Department of Workforce Service-Community Development Office. Since then, the CPDSC has had many accomplishments and is now managed by a dedicated CPDSC Coordinator within the Utah State University Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. With a primary focus on outreach and education, the CPDSC protects the highest concentration of certified dark sky places in the world. This video created in partnership with the National Park Service explains why we work with partners to protect and restore naturally dark night skies on a landscape and regional level.

The Basin and Range Dark Sky Cooperative (BRDSC), also supported by the NSNSD and led by the CPDSC Coordinator is a newer dark sky cooperative yet very impactful. The BRDSC boasts some of the darkest skies in the lower 48 states. In March 2024, the Oregon Outback became the largest international dark sky sanctuary in the world at 2.5 million acres in the eastern part of the state. The BRDSC region also hosts the Park to Park in the Dark astronomy route in Nevada between Death Valley and Great Basin National Parks. These grassroots efforts are key to protecting America’s dark night skies for present and future generations and for their intrinsic ecosystem values, as well as economic values.Both of these geographically focused dark sky cooperatives are voluntary initiatives designed to link local, state, and federal agencies, tribes, businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, and community partners in a collaborative effort to:

• Celebrate the views of the cosmos
• Minimize the impact of outdoor lighting
• Protect natural dark night skies and restore this environment where it has been degraded
• Promote astronomy-based recreation and tourism
• Share information, learn and support each other, and develop training opportunities