Managing light pollution through dark sky areas: learning from the world’s first dark sky preserve

The designation of dark sky areas (DSAs) is an increasingly popular regulatory tool for mitigating light pollution in rural communities with tourism-based economies. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence available on how the DSA model functions in practice, including the opportunities, challenges and controversies that can arise. Focusing on the world’s first permanent DSA, the Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Preserve in Muskoka, Ontario, Canada, we examine the stakeholder dynamics involved in DSA establishment and management. Using key informant interviews and survey research, our case study analysis illustrates the nuances of regulating light, showing how various socio-political barriers to light pollution abatement were (or were not) overcome through sustained ‘dark sky activism’. The findings inform management strategies for reducing light pollution, while also providing practical information for environmental planners and managers of DSA communities. Future research needs are also identified.