Grant: 25-036C
Project Title: Empowering Coastal Communities to Reduce Light Pollution
Project Manager: Rachel Tighe
Organization: Sea Turtle Conservancy (Non-Profit Organization)
Grant Amount: $25,000.00
Completion Date:
Summary: There is widespread consensus that poorly-managed artificial light on nesting beaches has a negative impact on adult and hatchling sea turtles. Many of Florida's coastal local governments have lighting ordinances to manage the impacts of artificial light that require the use of fixtures that shield the source of light, keep the light low to the ground, and use long wavelengths (560 nm or longer). However, enforcing these lighting regulations and encouraging coastal stakeholders to make these changes in the real world requires a targeted outreach strategy. Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) has been working to mitigate the impacts of artificial light on nesting beaches and build a foundation of conservation awareness through conducting statewide lighting workshops and outreach initiatives. The workshops are designed to educate code enforcement personnel and other stakeholders in the effort to reduce light pollution. STC works with local hardware stores to stock wildlife friendly lighting to provide coastal property owners with easier access to products. STC also partners with real estate agents to provide new property owners with educational packets that highlight the ways they can protect the natural resources they are inheriting. Through this project, STC will continue planning and conducting lighting workshops and further expand its home improvement store and real estate initiatives by engaging new active participants. STC will also conduct lighting workshops via Zoom and distribute educational packets to coastal real estate agents and educational displays to home improvement stores. Through this project, STC is will have the ability to target audiences that can make tangible, positive change when it comes to darkening nesting habitat and protecting sea turtles.
Results: