Jelsa Municipality: First in Croatia to join the Dark Sky Community!

On February 28th 2022, the International Dark Sky Association – (IDA) announced that the Jelsa Municipality was now designated as the first International Dark Sky Community (IDSC) in both Croatia and Southern Europe. The statement on the IDA website reads: “With this designation, Jelsa is now internationally recognized as the 37th IDSC for its exceptional commitment to protecting dark skies from light pollution.” 

The background to the IDSC

These are the overall aims of the IDA itself: “Artificial light at night has revolutionized the way we live and work outdoors, but it has come at a price. When used indiscriminately, outdoor lighting can disrupt wildlife, impact human health, waste money and energy, contribute to climate change, and block our view of the universe. Since 1988, IDA has led a movement to protect night from light pollution. Together, we have made significant strides.”

The IDA Director of Conservation, Ashley Wilson, stated: “The Municipality of Jelsa is setting a high standard for other communities in this country and region of the world to follow. We are pleased to recognize Jelsa as a distinguished leader in demonstrating that proper use of lighting can benefit both human wellbeing and the nocturnal environment within and outside our communities.”

The International Dark Sky Community is made up of local authorities, towns, cities and similar political entities which have demonstrated exceptional diligence in preserving the dark sky by implementing high quality policies regarding lighting, through education about preserving the darkness and through the support of the local population for the ideal of the dark sky.

Jelsa’s initiative

The initiative for joining the IDSC was launched by Marija Marjan, Director of the Jelsa Tourist Board, and the project and activities involved in it were led by the chief secretary of the Croatian Astronomy Union (link in Croatian), Dorian Božičević. The preparatory work lasted over a year, in collaboration with the Jelsa Municipality, the Jelsa Tourist Board, public organisations and companies, which involved many activities, including telescope observations for the general public, lectures, exhibitions, presentations, education programmes for juniors from the Jelsa Elementary School, a detailed inventory of public lighting, plus written projects, one detailing recommendations for renewing public lighting to be environmentally acceptable, another setting out a five-year plan. One of the earliest important achievements, thanks to the Croatian Astronomy Union, was the installation of a meteor camera and meterological station on Humac on December 20th 2020, linking Hvar Island with the Croatian Meteor Network which is part of the Global Meteor Network.

The documentation in support of the application to join the IDSC was presented to the IDA by the Croatian Astronomy Union in December 2021. It was accepted in principle, and after fulfilling some additional conditions set by the IDA, the Jelsa Municipality was designated an International Dark Sky Community.

The Conservation Programme “International Dark Sky Places”

“The International Dark Sky Conservation Programme recognizes and promotes excellent stewardship of the night sky”. You can read the details of the project and how it works on this link: https://www.darksky.org/our-work/conservation/idsp/

Introduction, from the IDA website: “The award-winning International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) Program was founded in 2001 to encourage communities, parks and protected areas around the world to preserve and protect dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education.”

Jelsa has joined a community of over 195 protected areas which have demonstrably contributed greatly to protecting the dark sky from light pollution.

Presentation of Results in the Jelsa Municipality Festive Hall

On Friday February 25th 2022, prior to the announcement that the Jelsa Municipality had been named Croatia’s first International Dark Sky Community, there was a presentation of the results of the project work supporting the candidature of the Jelsa Municipality for the designation.

Marija Marjan, Director of the Jelsa Municipality Tourist Board, introduced the proceedings. The presentation was given by the leader of the project, Dorian Božičević, chief secretary of the Croatian Astronomy Union. Jelsa’s Mayor Nikša Peronja warmly thanked everyone who had participated in this highly successful project in his concluding address.