INDIA’S FIRST DARK SKY RESERVE

CONTEXT

 India will establish its first Dark Sky Reserve in the cold desert regions of Ladakh by the end of 2022.

WHAT IS DARK SKY RESERVE

It is public or private land with a distinguished nocturnal environment and starry nights that have been developed responsibly to prevent light pollution.

These reserves consist of a core area meeting minimum criteria for sky quality and natural darkness and a peripheral area that supports dark sky preservation in the core.

These reserves are formed through a" partnership of multiple land managers who have recognized the value of the natural nighttime environment through regulations and long-term planning.

HOW THEY ARE CERTIFIED

Individuals or groups can nominate a site for certification to the IDSA. There are five designated categories –

• International Dark Sky Parks
• Communities
• Reserves
• Sanctuaries
• Urban Night Sky Places

The certification process is similar to that of a site being awarded the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag or getting recognized as a Biosphere Reserve.

Between 2001 and January 2022, 195 sites have been recognized as International Dark Sky Places globally

INDIA’S EFFORTS

• The Ladakh Union Territory administration is leading the efforts in establishing the country's first Dark Sky Reserve
• The formal decision to set up this reserve was made through an MOU signed between officials from the IIA, the Ladakh UT, and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council
• It is situated at a height of 4500 meters above sea level; the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve will come up within the Changthang wildlife sanctuary.
• The Department of Science and Technology and experts from the India Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) Bengaluru are providing scientific and technological support in developing this first-of-its-kind facility. The IIA already manages the Indian Astronomical Observatory ((IAO) complex at Hanle.

WHY LADAKH EARMARKED

• Ladakh is a unique cold desert with high mountainous terrains
• Long and harsh winters with minimum temperatures dropping to minus 40 degrees Celsius make large parts of the UT uninhabitable.
• This aridity, limited vegetation, high elevation, and large areas with sparse populations and, all make it the perfect setting for long-term astronomical observatories and dark sky places.
• But the primary objective of the proposed Dark Sky Reserve is to promote astronomy tourism.
• The 22 KM radius around the Hanle observatory, where the core Dark Sky Reserve will stand, will have restrictions imposed on outdoor lightning. All vehicles will be barred from using high beam headlights. Houses here will be encouraged to use curtains of darker shades, install light reflecting shields and switch off all unwanted illumination.