Night is falling. Stars begin to appear in the sky. The Milky Way is emerging. It is a grandiose spectacle that we could see more and more often in the national parks of Quebec. After participating in the creation of an international dark sky reserve around Mont-Mégantic National Park, SEPAQ has undertaken to combat light pollution throughout its network.
Posted at 11:30 a.m.
“The presence or absence of lighting is a very important element for the biodiversity of our territory, explains René Charest, conservation specialist at the Society of Outdoor Establishments of Quebec (SEPAQ). It is important to fight light pollution not only to see the stars, but also to preserve ecosystems. »
It was the presence of a large observatory at the top of Mont Mégantic that led the park and the region to work to reduce light pollution. The initial project notably made it possible to convert 3,300 luminaires in 17 municipalities. In September 2007, the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) awarded the area certification as an International Dark Sky Reserve.
PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The Mont-Mégantic observatory, at the origin of the international dark sky reserve
During the process, those responsible for the project realized that it was not just about better perceiving the stars in the sky.
“We quickly realized that the impacts of light pollution on ecosystems were underestimated,” says Sébastien Giguère, head of education at Parc national du Mont-Mégantic and scientific coordinator at Astrolab. “There was an explosion of scientific literature on this subject during the 2000s, an ecological awareness of the impacts of light pollution. »
The life cycle of many plants, insects, amphibians, birds and mammals is directly linked to the alternation of day and night. Artificial light can thus upset the reproduction, feeding, sleeping and protection strategies of these species.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The Milky Way over a lake in the Laurentians
The case of Mont-Tremblant
SEPAQ has decided to tackle this problem in all parks in Quebec, with particular attention to Mont-Tremblant National Park. For the latter, we would like to seek certification from the IDA as an international starry sky park.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Sébastien Giguère, head of education at Parc national du Mont-Mégantic and scientific coordinator at Astrolab
Light sources that do not meet the criteria must be eliminated. There are also requirements in terms of meshing with the environment. We must also commit to interpreting and raising awareness, in addition to doing follow-up.
Sébastien Giguère, head of education at Parc national du Mont-Mégantic and scientific coordinator at Astrolab
SEPAQ has already carried out an assessment of the state of the sky above Mont-Tremblant Park and the other parks in its network.
“There is a whole network of instruments, of photometers that has been installed in the majority of the parks,” says Mr. Giguère.
IMAGE PROVIDED BY ASTROLAB/PARC NATIONAL DU MONT-MÉGANTIC
This image shows the four principles of adequate lighting.
SEPAQ also undertook to assess and modify the lighting in place by following four principles, starting with orientation.
“You have to direct the light towards the ground rather than send it up into the sky,” recalls Mr. Giguère.
Color is also important.
“The blue component of white light is the one that causes the vast majority of harmful impacts,” continues Sébastien Giguère. It is necessary to light in warmer hues. There has been a lot of effort with the lighting industry to have more amber LEDs, which minimize impact. »
We must also consider the intensity. “You have to have adequate power so as not to create too strong contrasts outside the lighting zones. »
Thus, less intense and better directed lighting can be safer because it reduces glare and strong contrasts.
Finally, there is the duration.
Why light all night when the need is only in the evening?
Sébastien Giguère, head of education at Parc national du Mont-Mégantic and scientific coordinator at Astrolab
Municipalities too
The project is generating a lot of interest, even outside the parks. Municipalities now have access to luminaires that limit light pollution, which was not the case before.
According to René Charest, the fight against light pollution is particularly rewarding because there are no losers. “Often, in conservation, there are sacrifices to be made, but there, we light better, we increase security, we increase the quality of life and often, it ends up costing less electricity. »
Sébastien Giguère adds that the effects are not long in coming. “It’s not always easy to change things in the world, but with light pollution, we feel that we have a grip on the problem, we measure the changes. It’s very motivating to hear people tripping in such a park because they’ve never seen so many stars. »
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