Final stretch to apply for the starred towns and villages label

The Park is currently supporting municipalities wishing to obtain the “Cities and Starry Villages” label, in order to promote local efforts to reduce light pollution. Interested municipalities have until December 31 to register.

The Starry Towns and Villages label

Organized since 2009 by theANPCEN (National Association for the Preservation of the Sky and Nocturnal Environments) the Starry Towns and Villages competition aims to reward the efforts made by municipalities to reduce light pollution. Beyond the recognition offered by the label, it is about undertaking a reflection and a collective emulation around the preservation of the nocturnal environment.

The application consists of an exhaustive questionnaire in 8 themes, practices carried out by the municipality. If the first parts are interested in the administrative aspects and savings targets, the questionnaire invites us to highlight the awareness actions residents, the reflections having led to the lighting choice and highlights, and to provide the technical aspects on the inventory and use of exterior lighting.

Growing momentum within the Park

As part of the 2019-2020 edition of the label, 19 municipalities (including one gateway town) of the Périgord-Limousin Regional Natural Park were labeled or obtained a label retention: Aixe-sur-Vienne, Châlus, Champagnac-la-Rivière, Champniers-et-Reilhac, Dournazac, Flavignac, Jumilhac-le-Grand, La Rocheboucourt-et-Argentine, Le Chalard, Milhac-de-Nontron, Pageas, Piégut-Pluviers, Rilhac-Lastours, Rochechouart, Saint-Cyr, Saint-Estèphe, Saint-Jory-de-Chalais, Saint-Pierre-de-Frugie and Vayres.

Today, The 75 municipalities of the Park are all invited to apply for the 2024 edition, either to obtain the label or to try to increase the number of stars obtained in the previous edition. Municipalities that obtained the label in 2021 but are not seeking to increase their number of stars do not need to apply this year to maintain their label. To date, 39 municipalities in the area have already expressed their intention to apply to this new edition, including 5 labeled in 2021 which are seeking to increase their number of stars. In addition to these, there are 7 municipalities which will benefit from maintaining their label.

To hope to obtain the label or renew it, the municipalities have until December 31 for register on the ANPCEN website and until February 28 to complete their application online.

Personalized support

To support the municipalities in this process, the Park has employed Laura Csukonyi, a dedicated project manager, since October. In conjunction with Michel Deromme, ANPCEN volunteer representative for the territory, she makes herself available both for answer questions from elected officials and explain the steps to follow to apply (contact below).

She also travels to the municipalities that wish to do so, in order to provide her assistance in preparing the application file. Since October, she has already visited Champniers-et-Reilhac, Rilhac-Lastours, Piégut-Pluviers and Saint-Laurent-sur-Gorre. The municipalities of Saint-Auvent, Saint-Priest-les-Fougères, Saint-Pierre-de-Frugie, Sceau-Saint-Angel, Marval, Oradour-sur-Vayres and Abjat-sur-Bandiat will also benefit from this personalized support in the coming weeks. Other municipalities can still be supported, by making a request to the Park. 

A valuation on a territorial scale

At a time of unprecedented environmental and energy crisis, it seems essential to highlight collective efforts and unite populations. This is why the Park is also committed, in its own name, to a application for the “Starry Territory” labelObtaining this label requires that: 2/3 of the municipalities in the territory, representing at least 50% of the population be labeled “Starred Towns and Villages”. Behind this recognition process on a territorial scale, the intention of the Park is to maintain the link with all the municipalities that make it up and to promote unity.

This application for the Territoire étoilé label is part of the dynamics led for several years by the Park to preserve the nocturnal environment of Périgord-Limousin. Aware of the major challenge that light pollution represents in terms of public health, energy transition, preservation of nocturnal environments and biodiversity, the Park is indeed multiplying projects: Public lighting management plan, My town at night, International Dark Sky Reserve (IDSR)…

Your contact at the Park: Laura CSUKONYI – l.csukonyi@pnrpl.com