Balancing artificial light at night with turtle conservation? Coastal community engagement with light-glow reduction

Abstract

SUMMARYArtificial lighting is a significant threat to biodiversity. Although efforts to reduce lighting are crucial for species’ conservation efforts, management is challenging because light at night is integral to modern society and light use is increasing with population and economic growth. The development and evaluation of appropriate light management strategies will require positive public support, and a comprehensive understanding of public engagement with light pollution. This is the first study to examine public engagement with reducing light at night for the protection of a threatened species. A community campaign to reduce artificial light use was initiated in 2008 to protect marine turtles at a globally significant nesting beach. Semi-structured questionnaires assessed community engagement with light-glow reduction, using an existing theoretical constraints framework. Despite high levels of cognitive and affective engagement (knowledge and concern), behavioural engagement (action) with light reduction in this community was limited. Community perceptions of light reduction were dominated by ‘uncertainty and scepticism’ and ‘externalizing responsibility/blame’, implying that behavioural engagement in this community may be increased by addressing these widely-held perceptions using modified campaign materials and/or strategic legislation. Further refinement of the theoretical constraints framework would better guide future empirical and conceptual research to improve understanding of public engagement with critical environmental issues.

Ecological Corridor Construction Based on Least-Cost Modeling Using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Nighttime Light Data and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index

“…Light reduction policies and legislation may be effective. However, due to a poor understanding of light pollution, improving public awareness and participation is also very significant [58]. Our results offer a preliminary basis for understanding how nighttime light influences ecological connectivity.…”

Conservation hotspots for marine turtle nesting in the United States based on coastal development

“…Gaining public support can be challenging (Lyytimäki and Rinne ), but can be helped by understanding relevant stakeholder beliefs and existing levels of local engagement with conservation efforts (Sutton and Tobin , Kamrowski et al. ). Such knowledge can guide the development of “psychologically smart” communication with greater persuasive potential (Ockwell et al.…”

Stemming the Tide of Light Pollution Encroaching into Marine Protected Areas

“…Changing public perceptions of nighttime lighting toward avoiding its use is therefore a major challenge. Combined with a lack of legislative options, conservation managers are left to seek voluntary incentives to curb its use, by working with local communities to foster a healthy balance between the benefits and environmental impacts (e.g., Kamrowski et al 2014b).…”