New guidelines focusing on migratory landbirds and bats are currently being developed under CMS. These should consider the main sources of light pollution at a certain site, the likely wild species that could be impacted, and facts about proximity to important habitats and migratory pathways. Among their recommendations, the guidelines set forth six principles of best lighting practices and call for Environmental Impact Assessments for relevant projects that could result in light pollution. Guidelines on light pollution covering marine turtles, seabirds, and migratory shorebirds were endorsed by the CMS Parties in 2020.
Solutions and recommendations to mitigate light pollution Seabirds such as petrels and shearwaters are attracted by artificial lights on land and become prey for rats and cats.” Many nocturnally migrating birds such as ducks, geese, plovers, sandpipers and songbirds are affected by light pollution causing disorientation and collisions with fatal consequences. Jacques Trouvilliez, Executive Secretary of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) said: “An enormous diversity of birds, active at night, experience the impacts of light pollution. Depleted energy reserves put them at risk of exhaustion, predation, and fatal collision with buildings. Attracted by artificial light at night, particularly when there is low cloud, fog, rain or when flying at lower altitudes, migrating birds become disorientated and may end up circling in illuminated areas. It can change birds' migration patterns, foraging behaviours, and vocal communication. It alters the natural patterns of light and dark in ecosystems. Every year, light pollution contributes to the death of millions of birds. Light pollution is a significant and growing threat to wildlife including many species of migratory birds. Solutions are readily available, and we hope to encourage key decision-makers to adopt measures to address light pollution.” A key goal of World Migratory Bird Day 2022 is to raise awareness of the issue of light pollution and its negative impacts on migratory birds. Amy Fraenkel, Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) said: “Natural darkness has a conservation value in the same way as clean water, air, and soil.
0 kommentar(er)
