Useful Resources

Wildlife Sensitive Toolkit

Artificial lighting provides an important public good but can also be a powerful ecological pollutant. The negative effects of light pollution on wildlife (and humans) are now widely recognised, and wildlife sensitive lighting products are increasingly available. Despite this, the uptake of wildlife sensitive lighting strategies and our understanding of when and where to apply them has been patchy and is often ad hoc.

This collaborative project led by Dr Marty Lockett from the Urban Light Lab aimed to provide time-poor lighting managers and decision-makers with better tools for making wildlife sensitive lighting decisions. These tools (Appendices B-E) are found at the end of the report: Appendix B – Resource guide; Appendix C – Decision guide; Appendix D – Wildlife sensitive lighting specification; Appendix E – Wildlife sensitive lighting case studies. Click the downloadable link below for a copy of the report.

National Light Pollution Guidelines

The guidelines raise awareness of the impacts of artificial light on wildlife. They can help you protect Australia’s threatened wildlife. The guidelines include:

• a framework for how to assess and manage the light pollution impacts on protected wildlife
• detailed guidance for how to manage artificial light
• specific advice on how to protect marine turtles, seabirds and migratory shorebirds.

In 2023, the guidelines were updated and now also include specific advice on how to protect bats, terrestrial mammals and ecological communities.

Click here for more information https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/biodiversity/publications/national-light-pollution-guidelines-wildlife

Or, Download the updated 2023 guidelines here:

ADSA (Australasian Dark Sky Alliance)

ADSA is a great starting point to learn about light pollution in Australia

https://www.australasiandarkskyalliance.org/our-mission

• Educate the public and policymakers about night sky conservation
• Promote environmentally responsible outdoor lighting.
• Empower everyone with the tools and resources to help bring back the night.
• Create business opportunities that support night sky preservation.
• Support communities to create IDA Designated DarkSky Places in the Southern Hemisphere.

Dark Sky International

DarkSky International aims to restore the nighttime environment and protects communities from the harmful effects of light pollution through outreach, advocacy, and conservation.