DESCRIPTION:

E2Tech’s February 25, 2010 Forum will focus on two emerging issues in resource management at the National Park Service (NPS): soundscapes and night skies. NPS recently identified soundscapes and night skies as important natural resources to be protected, and created the Natural Sounds and Night Skies Programs under the NPS Natural Resources Program Center.

The speakers, Frank Turina, Ph.D, from NPS’ Denver, CO program office and Peter Lord, Director of the Island Astronomy Institute in Bernard, Maine, will address the emergence and development of these important programs and will discuss efforts to protect the acoustic environment and night skies at Acadia National Park.

Frank Turina, PhD., a Senior Planner for the Natural Sounds Program, will discuss the importance of the acoustic environment in a healthy ecosystem; the physiological, behavioral, and psychosocial effects of noise on wildlife and park visitors; and efforts to characterize, measure, and preserve the soundscape quality in Acadia National Park.

Peter Lord of the Island Astronomy Institute will discuss the Institute's collaboration with Acadia National Park to measure, promote and protect the night skies as a valuable natural resource. The project is founded on the transfer of full sky measurement technology developed by the NPS to the Island Astronomy Institute. Mr. Lord will present measurements made with the unique system (funded in part by an Maine Technology Institute Seed Grant) and plans for the introduction of the second generation of NPS technology. To date the partnership has resulted in four municipal lighting ordinances and the launch of the inaugural Acadia Night Sky Festival. In January, the state legislature approved efforts to implement statewide protective measures.