ENSTU 300: Critical Thinking & Communication in Environmental Studies
Stakeholder Perspectives on Light Pollution
Natalie Buffo, Environmental Studies Program, California State University Monterey Bay
Johannesburg City Lights, courtesy Dylan Harbour
The pollution created by nightly artificial
illumination affects individuals and wildlife
alike. Of the many, two important
stakeholder groups that are affected by or
deal with groups affected artificial light are
organizations protecting migrating bird
species such as the American Bird
Conservancy and the National Audubon
Society. Those in professions that deal with
the atmosphere/the night sky, (such as
astronomers, engineers, observatories, etc.)
are also stakeholders. Refer to table 1 for an
outline of stakeholder concerns, values and
contributions to the cause.
Protection Group Perspectives
Migratory bird protection groups, such as
the American Bird Conservancy and the
National Audubon Society, are major
stakeholders when considering the affects
that nightly artificial illumination has on
varying bird species. These groups are
concerned with keeping the routes of
migrating birds undisturbed by
anthropogenic causes; nightly artificial
illumination has been a threat to these
species, especially when in high
concentration. The American Bird
Conservancy list man-made structures, like
communication towers, as being a threat for
birds that migrate at night and have
documented more than 550 Yellow-billed
cuckoo deaths at just 17 towers (American
Bird Conservancy). These protection groups
are also involved with other protections of
bird species, like those concerning
extinction, habitat loss, pesticides, etc.
Currently, these groups and five hundred
other environmental-based organizations are
defending the Migratory Bird Treaty Act as
it has recently been no longer enforced by
the Department of Interior (National Audubon
Society, 2018).
Researcher Perspectives
Nightly artificial illumination poses a major
issue for those with professions associated
with the night sky, such as observatories,
astronomers, researchers, etc. Nightly
artificial light from city structures or
buildings can greatly impact the way in
which the night sky is seen. Often times,
artificial light completely obstructs the view
of stars or other astronomical features,
making those involved in these professions
greatly affected. For example, Flagstaff,
Arizona implemented a policy that mitigates
the production and use of outdoor lighting in
order to limit adverse impacts from these
lighting structures (Flagstaff Dark Skies
Coalition, 2015). These policy was put in
place while keeping in mind the Lowell
Observatory, which is one of the oldest
observatories in America and is a large
motivator for the “world’s first International
Dark-Sky City,” Flagstaff, Arizona (Lowell
Observatory, 2018). The observatory prides
itself on its mission to pursue the study of
astronomy and the solar system and was also
the first observatory to discover Pluto,
collect the first evidence of the expanding
universe, and many other astronomical
achievements (Lowell Observatory, 2018).
Without the implemented policies on the
artificial light, the observatory would not be
able to see the night sky in a natural state.

Table 1. Stakeholder Perspectives

Stake-holder Stake-holder Contri- Stake-

Values butions holder
Concerns

American Bird Healthy Defending Ensure

Conservancy, National ecosystems Migratory proper
Audubon Society Bird Act protection
Mitigating legislation is
anthropogenic Education in place
disturbance of
migrating birds Involvement Protect
in Bird various bird
Education Conservatio species and
public about n environment
bird species
and importance
to environment

Engaging in
policies/legisl-
ature regarding
bird species

Observatories, Research/Data Policy Elimination

Astronomers, collection implementa- of nightly
Engineers tion artificial light
Public
Education Provided Artificial
education light from
and research city
for further landscape
studies disrupting
natural night
sky

2
Literature Cited
Lowell Observatory. (2018). Retrieved March
26, 2018, from https://lowell.edu/

National Audubon Society. (2018, February 09).

More than 500 Organizations in All 50
States Urge Congress to Defend Bird
Protection Law. Retrieved March 26,
2018, from
http://www.audubon.org/news/more-
500-organizations-all-50-states-urge-
congress-defend-bird-protection-law

Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition (2015). Outdoor

Lighting Codes. Retrieved March 26,
2018, from
http://www.flagstaffdarkskies.org/dark-
sky-solutions/dark-sky-solutions-
2/outdoor-lighting-codes/

American Bird Conservancy (n.d.). Bird

Collisions. Retrieved March 26, 2018,
from https://abcbirds.org/threat/bird-
strikes/