Due to night-time lighting, the darkness is under pressure in the Wadden area. This is why more than forty parties are applying the emergency brake. They want a Dark Sky Wadden Region World Heritage Site. Darkness must remain a core quality of the Wadden Sea region and darkness must become a unique experience of Wadden Sea World Heritage: the place where you can really enjoy the full spectrum of nebulae, stars and planets.
In the Netherlands, Boschplaat on Terschelling and Lauwersmeer National Park have been declared Dark Sky Parks! Breathe in the pure air, admire the starry sky and experience the silence. Until the end of November you might catch a glimpse of the northern lights. A unique experience that will make you feel quiet too.
The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) has designated 42 Dark Sky Parks, two of which are located in the Wadden area of UNESCO World Heritage. Both De Boschplaat on Terschelling and National Park Lauwersmeer have the Dark Sky label and are committed to ensuring that the darkness in the areas is maintained.
On Saturday evening 29 October 2016, during the Night of the Night, the 43 parties (The Wadden provinces, the Wadden islands and municipalities, Rijkswaterstaat, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, nature organisations, The Wadden Sea ports and the National Parks of the Wadden Region) signed a declaration of intent to create a Dark Sky World Heritage Site for the Wadden Region. This is the first time that so many parties are working together to protect and, where possible, develop darkness as a quality of the landscape. Under the auspices of UNESCO Wadden Sea World Heritage they will further reduce light emissions in the Wadden Region.
It is important that so many parties want to put their shoulders to the wheel. You don’t just protect darkness; it requires cooperation with parties that are dependent on light for their business operations or that bear responsibility for the safety of employees and residents. The strength of this declaration lies in the agreed joint approach.
Signature on Zwarte Haan
The signing was driven and guided by the Programme for a Rich Wadden Sea and the Feel the Night Foundation. It takes place on Zwarte Haan. This small town in Friesland lies exactly on half of the Dutch Wadden area. It is also the starting point of the northernmost approach route for the European pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. And it is one of the few places in the Netherlands on the mainland where you can take a relatively undisturbed look at the starry sky. When was the last time you saw a shooting star? When the sky is clear, the Wadden Sea region will soon have about 50 times more stars than the Randstad, one of the most illuminated areas in the world.
Relaxing
Awareness of night-time light emissions and their adverse effects on humans and animals is increasing. Bats, for example, will look for less food due to lack of darkness. And it is much better for people to ‘slow down’ when artificial light decreases. In addition, night-time darkness is increasingly valued as a quality of landscape. Over the centuries, darkness has been a source of inspiration for musicians, poets and artists.
Concrete measures
The first follow-up action after signing is that a lighting expert visits each party to realise quickwins. This involves, for example, better consideration of where light is and is not needed, the installation of dim and/or sensor light and the exchange of knowledge in order to increase awareness. In the meantime, the Dutch Wadden area has been chosen as the “most beautiful nature area in the Netherlands”. Darkiness is one of the experiential aspects that will be further promoted in this context if there is a profit in the public election.
Rich Wadden Sea
Over the past year, PRW has guided and driven the process of the letter of intent. The Feel the Night Foundation is one of the founders of the idea of a widely supported Dark Sky Wadden Region. Dark Sky World Heritage Wadden Region fits in with the common goal of a rich Wadden Sea to create more sustainable tourism and more economical use of energy. (Source: www.rijkewaddenzee.nl)