Submitted by
jessica.castro…
on Wed, 04/19/2023 - 15:44
General Information
Resolution
49796
IUCN Constituent
IUCN WCPA Caribbean and Central America 2021-2025
IUCN Constituent type
IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas 2021-2025
Period covered
Geographic scope
Country
Country/Territory
Puerto Rico
Actors involved in implementing this Resolution:
IUCN Secretariat
No
Other non-IUCN related organisations
Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, National Wildlife Refuge Association, Amigos de las Tortugas Matinas, Chelonia, Siete Quillas, Yo Amo al Tinglar, Vida Marina, Tortugueros del Sur, Tortugueros del CEN, Tortugueros de Isla Verde
II. Implementation
Activities carried out to implement this Resolution
Activity
Capacity-building
Description and results/achievements of activities:
We collaborated with the local government and local sea turtle community-based groups to train in the identification of sources of light pollution. We trained field assistants on the process of designing a lighting retrofit plan.
Status
On-going
Activity
Education/Communication/Raising awareness
Description and results/achievements of activities:
We developed educational materials about light pollution, and its negative effect on wildlife, especially on sea turtle nesting beaches.
Status
On-going
Activity
Field activities
Description and results/achievements of activities:
With funds from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, our project developed a lighting retrofit program for the island. We provided cost-free turtle-friendly lights to those properties that voluntarily applied to our program.
Status
On-going
Describe any challenges encountered in implementing this Resolution and the measures taken
Three major challenges affect the long term success of our actions: 1) the lack of law enforcement in Puerto Rico, 2) the lack of turtle-friendly lights available in local stores and megastores, 3) the higher costs of turtle-friendly lights plus cost of shipping to Puerto Rico.
Please report on the result /achievement of the actions taken
As of February 2023, a total of 107 properties participated in the program including 53 single-family homes, 23 condominiums (common-use and recreative areas), 21 commercial properties (e.g., restaurants), 8 properties with “other” uses (e.g., church, public park) and 4 residential/commercial (i.e., Airbnb). Even though there is still so much work to be done to guarantee a long-term impact, nesting beaches in Puerto Rico are darker and safer for sea turtles than they were a few years ago. Hopefully, this effort has generated enough empathy and knowledge to change people’s attitudes and behaviors toward sea turtles and the impact of excessive light on nesting beaches.
Identify and briefly describe what future actions/activities are planned for the implementation of this Resolution
Future action / activity
Education/Communication/Raising awareness
Description
Ongoing education campaigns are fundamental for increasing awareness which would result in a change in behaviors.
Future action / activity
Policy influencing/advocacy
Description
Advocating for effective law enforcement is one of the strategies that would help to reduce light pollution in Puerto Rico.
III. Additional Information
Upload document
SWOT17_32-33_Light+Pollution.pdf
(358.4 KB)
Report status
Published