Watersheds Canada, a leading national environmental charity, announces the launch of its education toolkit to address the increasing threat of light pollution on Canada’s natural environments, wildlife, and human health.
The education toolkit will highlight a comprehensive public awareness initiative to educate individuals, businesses, and municipalities about the detrimental effects of light pollution.
Artificial lighting, while beneficial to some human activities, has unintended side effects on the natural environment and human health. Nocturnal wildlife is especially affected, with creatures facing disruptions in their natural behaviour and circadian rhythms. Furthermore, the beauty of the country’s dark skies, a natural heritage, is gradually fading, impacting stargazing opportunities and associated tourism.
“When Canadians think of major environmental issues, light pollution may not come to mind”, said Robert Pye, Executive Director at Watersheds Canada. “Light pollution goes beyond just masking our view of the stars: it impacts our ecosystems, disrupts wildlife rhythms and migrations, and even harms human health. With this education toolkit, we will ignite a national conversation and drive actionable change. We invite all Canadians to join us to protect our night skies.”
To support the cause, individuals, community groups, classes, and municipalities are encouraged to access a wealth of research and free resources through the toolkit and engage in community-led initiatives and knowledge-sharing workshops using the resources found at: watersheds.ca/light
About Watersheds Canada
Watersheds Canada is a registered Canadian charity (863555223RR0001) dedicated to protecting the country’s freshwater resources and the ecosystems they support. With a twenty-year history of impactful habitat restoration programs and stewardship initiatives, Watersheds Canada is at the forefront of environmental and freshwater conservation. Learn more at watersheds.ca
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Media Contact:
Monica Seidel
Communications and Fundraising Manager
Watersheds Canada
seidel (at) watersheds.ca