Saving the small things that run the planet
Join Buglife in calling on governments to stop neglecting the night and embed the nocturnal environment in conservation plans.
50% of the time it is night, yet nearly no plans to protect nature recognise the nocturnal environment.
From glow-worms to badgers, from bats to salmon and from owls to toads, at least two-thirds of all animal species are active at night and depend on the unique conditions that come once the sun goes down.
By ignoring the night in plans for nature, it is likely to be impossible to meet ambitions to halt biodiversity loss and we risk losing species that many of us don’t even know exist.
Join our campaign and Don’t Neglect the Night here:
Total Signatures: 328
Your name won’t be published, the data will only be used to show the number of people that support this campaign. Country level data helps us direct action to National Governments.
While the night shares many issues with the daytime environment, some issues are amplified or exclusive to the nocturnal environment.
Issues facing the nocturnal environment include:
Light pollution – Artificial lighting is rapidly increasing, disrupting nocturnal wildlife behaviour, migration and reproduction. We are eroding the very feature that makes the night, night!
Habitat loss – Man made changes to our landscapes is reducing available habitat for species that need the night to survive.
Climate change – The impacts of climate change are exacerbated at night, with greater temperature changes than during the daytime.
Noise pollution – Increased human activity at night can disrupt the normally ‘quiet’ hours where wildlife has evolved to thrive.
Misunderstood – Compared to the daytime, the nocturnal environment is understudied and misunderstood.
Actions to help conserve and restore the nocturnal environment include:
- Reducing light pollution.
- Preserve and restore natural dark areas.
- Limit human activities in sensitive habitats during night hours.
- Designate quiet zones where noise pollution is minimised after dark.
- Support sustainable development and planning with the nocturnal environment.
- Increase research and understanding of the nocturnal environment and the species that have evolved to depend on it.
Wherever you are there are opportunities to influence plans for nature and ensure the night is not neglected. Listed below are immediate opportunities in different nations.
*This list will be updated as our efforts progress.
National Opportunities:
Scotland
We are calling on the Scottish Government to include actions to protect the nocturnal environment in the upcoming Natural Environment Bill.
Supporting MSPs
Mark Ruskell MSP
Patrick Harvie MSP
Colin Beattie MSP
Stephanie Callaghan MSP
Kenneth Gibson MSP
Ross Greer MSP
Bill Kidd MSP
Monica Lennon MSP
Fulton MacGregor MSP
Gillian Mackay MSP
John Mason MSP
Stuart McMillan MSP
Paul Sweeney MSP
Evelyn Tweed MSP
Mercerdes Villalba MSP
Foysol Choudhury MSP
Beatrice Wishart MSP
Maurice Golden MSP
Marie McNair MSP
Finlay Carson MSP
Ariane Burgess MSP
Maggie Chapman MSP
Jackie Dunbar MSP
Roz McCall MSP
Emma Harper MSP
Graham Simpson MSP
Wales
We are calling on the Welsh Government to protect and enhance the nocturnal environment in targets developed under the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill.
Supporting MSs
Darren Millar MS
Heledd Fychan MS
Northern Ireland
We are calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to adopt plans to protect the nocturnal environment under the Environmental Improvement Plan for Northern Ireland.
UK
The UK Government should introduce nocturnal actions in their revised Environmental Improvement Plans (EIP).
European Union Opportunities
Member States should introduce actions to protect the nocturnal environment in their National Restoration Plans required under the Nature Restoration Law.
Global Opportunities
All parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity should include nocturnal actions in their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) in alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Supporting Organisations
We are joined by these organisations in calling on governments to stop neglecting the night and embed the nocturnal environment in conservation plans.
Supporting Individuals
We are joined by these individuals in calling on governments to stop neglecting the night and embed the nocturnal environment in conservation plans.
Nick Baker – Naturalist and Buglife Vice President