"Two yellowing street lamps cast a pool of light on the dark road winding into the woods outside Mazee village. This scene is typical for narrow countryside roads in Wallonia in the south of Belgium. Having lights here is logical, says Andre Detournay, 77, who has lived in the village for four decades. I walk here with my dog and it makes me feel safe and gives me some protection from theft."
"Belgium glows like a Christmas decoration at night, as witnessed from space. It is one of the most light-polluted countries in Europe, with the Milky Way scarcely visible except in the most remote areas. But in the coming months, these lamps outside Mazee in the municipality of Viroinval will be turned off permanently as part of a radical project to remove 75 pointless streetlights in this area of Wallonia."
"Across Europe, unnecessary lighting is being extinguished, and a key motivation is to protect nature. Over the past decade an increasing amount of research has shown that illuminating night skies is bad for a wide range of species, including insects, birds and amphibians disrupting their feeding, reproduction and navigation. Andre Detournay says he would need to see evidence of significantly increased biodiversity to support the project."
Two yellowing street lamps illuminate a road into the woods outside Mazee village in Wallonia. Lamps there will be turned off permanently as part of a plan to remove 75 pointless streetlights in the area. Belgium is among Europe’s most light-polluted countries, with the Milky Way scarcely visible outside remote areas. Across Europe, unnecessary nighttime lighting is being extinguished to protect nature. Research links artificial light at night to harm for insects, birds and amphibians by disrupting feeding, reproduction and navigation. Some local residents express safety concerns and seek proof of biodiversity gains.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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