CMS International Light Pollution Guidelines for Migratory Species (Rev.COP14)
Acknowledging that artificial light is increasing globally by at least 2 per cent per year,Recognizing that artificial light, particularly at night, is an emerging issue for the conservation of wildlife, astronomy and human health,Further recognizing that when artificial light contributes to the brightening of the night sky it is called light pollution,Alarmed that artificial light is known to adversely affect many species and ecological communities by disrupting critical behaviours in wildlife and functional processes, stalling the recovery of threatened species, and interfering with a migratory species’ ability to undertake long-distance migrations integral to its life cycle, or by negatively influencing insects as a main prey of some migratory species,Recognizing that artificial light at night also provides for human safety, amenity and increased productivity, and sometimes there are conflicting requirements for human safety and wildlife conservation,Fully aware that there are both direct and indirect effects of artificial light that can be detrimental to many migratory species, including changing behaviour and/or physiology, reducing survivorship or reproductive output, or indirect effects on prey species, which has consequences for ecosystem functioning,Noting that there are many documented instances of the negative effect of artificial light on migratory species, including avoidance by marine turtles of nesting on beaches that are artificially lit, migratory shorebirds using less preferable roost sites to avoid lights, and disruption in foraging and fledgling for a number of seabirds,Recalling EUROBATS Resolution 8.6 on Bats and Light Pollution and its Guidelines for consideration of bats in lighting projects (Publication Series No.8), which encourages Parties to avoid or mitigate the negative impacts of light pollution on bats,Noting with appreciation the endeavours of the Australian and New Zealand Governments in developing guidance in relation to managing light pollution, and which contributed to the development of the globally applicable CMS International Light Pollution Guidelines for Migratory Species, andAlso noting with appreciation that light pollution and its impact on migratory birds was the focus of the annual World Migratory Bird Day campaign in 2022, and welcoming in particular the cooperation with ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability in the context of the campaign that led to the development of an online City Guide on Light Pollution published by CMS and ICLEI,The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals1.Confirms that light pollution refers to artificial light that alters the natural patterns of light and dark in ecosystems;2.Acknowledges that both humans and wildlife need the right light, in the right place, at the right time;3.Adopts the CMS International Light Pollution Guidelines for Migratory Species (Guidelines) contained in the Annex to this Resolution designed to aid CMS Parties by providing a framework for assessing and managing the impact of artificial light on susceptible wildlife in their jurisdiction, noting that the Guidelines do not seek to inhibit the benefits afforded by artificial light, where this is necessary for human safety or similar important public interests;4.Encourages Parties, in instances where artificial light is impacting migratory species, to find creative solutions that meet both human requirements and wildlife conservation;5.Implores Parties to manage artificial light so that migratory species are not disrupted within, nor displaced from, important habitat, and are able to undertake critical behaviours such as foraging, reproduction and migration;6.Urges Parties to use the Guidelines to adopt appropriate measures and processes designed to assess if a lighting project is likely to negatively affect wildlife and identify management tools to minimise and mitigate that impact;7.Recommends that non-Parties and other stakeholders, including the business sector, and non-governmental organizations use and promote the Guidelines to facilitate broad uptake of processes designed to limit and mitigate the harmful effects of artificial light on migratory species;8.Requests the Secretariat to promote the Guidelines to the CMS Family, including its subsidiary Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding, and more broadly to other relevant multilateral environment agreements, as well as relevant regional agreements and programmes;9.Recommends that Parties, non-Parties and other stakeholders dedicate more attention to night sky brightness and its monitoring including energy costs linked to nocturnal illuminations; and10.Recommends that Parties encourage and support scientific research on the impacts of artificial light on wildlife.