Artificial light at night as an unrecognized threat to protected areas of Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (North Serbia)

ABSTRACT: In the last two decades, artificial light at night has increased at alarming rates on global level and numerous negative effects of excessive artificial lighting are characterized as light pollution. However, light pollution has not gained enough attention such as water or air pollution, even though researchers are finding more and more evidence of its adverse impact on the environment. This phenomenon is mostly unknown in Serbia (and wider region), and consequences of light pollution have not yet been assessed. Autonomous Province of Vojvodina has 165 protected areas which cover a surface of approximately 2048 km2 and are home to a large number of strictly protected species. Furthermore, due to its geographical location and characteristics of the relief, Vojvodina is intersected by numerous ecological corridors, especially for avifauna. Likewise, this region is also highly populated and has dense road network which is usually located nearby protected areas. Since artificial lighting is present wherever there are human activities, it can be assumed that protected areas and ecological corridors in Vojvodina Province are endangered with light pollution. The aim of this paper is to present the basic concept of light pollution problematic, and to define the biggest light emitters in Vojvodina and surrounding in order to outline the most endangered protected areas by this pollutant.