Assessment of Light Pollution Impact on Protected Areas in China

Between 1992 and 2012, the proportion of dark protected areas (PAs) in China declined by 35.38%, with significant local increases in light pollution particularly noted in northern Xinjiang, Gansu, Xizang, Yunnan, Jiangsu, and Shandong. This finding was derived from an analysis of time-series night-time light satellite images from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Operational Linescan System (DMSP-OLS), which revealed the extent of human-induced light pollution encroaching into PAs nationwide. The study highlights the unprecedented spatial range and intensity of light pollution due to rapid urban expansion, offering a scalable method for assessing its impact on protected ecosystems. Two mitigation strategies—establishing appropriate buffer zones and expanding light pollution measurements—are recommended to address this growing threat.

Jiang, W., He, G., & Ni, Y. (2017). ASSESSMENT OF LIGHT POLLUTION IMPACT ON PROTECTED AREAS IN CHINA. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, XLII-2/W7, 1307–1312. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-xlii-2-w7-1307-2017