38 DECEMBER 2020 International Dark Sky Association helps safeguard starry nights Preserving DARKNESS By Cliff Summerhill | PHOTOS: BETTYMAYA FOOTT or over 30 years, the International Dark Sky Association has been fighting to ensure that starry nights survive. They are not just beautiful to gaze at; they want people to know that starry nights are also crucial to our environment. “By 2001, over a decade into IDA’s existence, two things had become clear,” Dr. John Barentine, director of public policy for IDA, said. “First, that engaging with the outdoor lighting industry (rather than fighting it at every turn) was key to achieving our mission. And second, addressing those needs involves tending to both the supply and the demand sides of the equation.” Dr. Barentine shared that turning off the world’s lights is obviously not feasible or reasonable. Still, the

39 DECEMBER 2020 There are several designations within the International Dark Sky Places Program: • International Dark-Sky Community (IDSC) is a town, city, municipality or other entity that has shown exceptional dedication to the preservation of the night sky. • International Dark-Sky Park (IDSP) is a land possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and nocturnal environment. • International Dark-Sky Reserve (IDSR) is a public or private land of substantial size (approximately 173,000 acres) possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and nocturnal environment. • International Dark-Sky Sanctuary (Sanctuary) is similar to an International Dark Sky Park or Reserve but differs in that it is typically situated in a very remote location. • Urban Night Sky Place (UNSP) is the newest designation. It is usually a municipal park, open space, observing site, or other similar property near or surrounded by large urban environments whose planning and design actively promote an authentic nighttime experience in the midst of significant artificial light. • Camp Verde • Cottonwood • Flagstaff • Fountain Hills • Grand Canyon National Park • Kartchner Caverns State Park • Village of Oak Creek (Big Park) • Oracle State Park • Petrified Forest National Park • Sedona • Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument • Parashant National Monument • Tonto National Monument • Tumacácori National Historical Park • Tucson • Walnut Canyon National Monument • Wupatki National Monument DARK SKY TERMS AZ DARK SKY LOCATIONS need for modified outdoor lighting and encouragement of people to choose those better options is critical to the survival of pure nighttime darkness. “I came to work for IDA out of a motivation to help others experience the wonder of the night sky by helping to preserve nighttime darkness for the benefit of future generations,” Dr. Barentine said. In Arizona, there are seven International Dark Sky Communities and 10 International Dark Sky Parks. The only IDSC in Maricopa County is the town of Fountain Hills. As of now, there are no reserves, sanctuaries or Urban Night Sky Places in the state. Darkness is a biologically necessary resource, and natural nighttime darkness is vanishing, according to Dr. Barentine. “Darkness at night is needed (like light during the day) to properly set our circadian rhythms, which control all manner of biological functions needed for good health,” Dr. Barentine said. “Of at least 160 species studied to date, all exhibit evidence of some kind of harm when exposed to artificial light at night.” Dr. Barentine also believes that with global climate change affecting the world’s wildlife, it is critical for people to take actions to preserve and protect our beautiful resources, one of them being unspoiled night skies. “Unless we reverse this trend, we face a future in which these remaining dark places gradually vanish,” Dr. Barentine said. “Among the goals of the International Dark Sky Places Program, one is helping to change the direction of this growth, and even to bring back nighttime darkness in places where it has been lost.” darksky.org Arizona has more certified Dark Sky Places than any other U.S. state or country in the world.