World-first bid for World Heritage Starlight Reserve
03 Aug 2007
A New Zealand initiative to establish a World Heritage Starlight Reserve is underway, with 2009 as the goal for the Lake Tekapo and Aoraki Mount Cook skies.
The bid has captured the imagination of people in New Zealand and around the world due to the Starlight Reserve being a new concept for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). UNESCO’s goal is to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural sites around the world, through establishing them as World Heritage areas.
Helping lead the campaign is Graeme Murray of Earth and Sky, who operates stargazing tours at the Mount John Observatory in Lake Tekapo, renowned for its brilliantly clear night skies.
‘A Starlight Reserve needs to be astronomy-based and with the Mount John Observatory the centre of astronomy research in New Zealand, it is an ideal location,’ says Murray.
Murray began the bid to establish the Starlight Reserve at a UNESCO convention in April 2007. The presentation was positively received and the convention gave its endorsement for the new project. At the latest World Heritage Committee meeting in July 2007, a proposal was circulated by UNESCO that Lake Tekapo be considered the pilot study for this unique World Heritage category.
The next stage in the process involves developing a final submission for the UNESCO 2008 Committee meeting in Canada. The bid will involve consultation with the Department of Conservation and local government. If successful, the New Zealand initiative would be announced to coincide with the International Year of Astronomy in 2009.
Further information:
Graeme Murray
Earth & Sky
Phone +64 3 680 6780 or +64 27 538 1080
murrayparkbrae@xtra.co.nz
or
Karen Mullaly, General Manager
Destination Mt Cook Mackenzie
Phone +64 3 353 1173 or +64 21 650 401
manager@mtcooknz.com
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