Greenprint/Sustainability

Conservation is Sweet: DZS Plants Fruit Trees in the Heart of the Amazon

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By Claire Lannoye-Hall, director of education for the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS). 

Follow Claire on her journey through Peru when you read this blog on StoryMaps!

For more than two decades, the DZS has partnered with CONAPAC, a nonprofit organization in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. With the generous support of Amazon Explorama Lodges, a travel company with more than 50 years of commitment to the region, the partnership supports the conservation of this globally essential ecosystem. Each year, thousands of students and teachers receive school supplies, teachers participate in professional development workshops, and families have access to clean, safe drinking water. 

In addition to the partnership’s commitment to education and safe drinking water, we support economic opportunities for interested communities. As part of this initiative, several thousand fruit trees have been planted in select communities as a source of added nutrition for families. As the trees mature and produce excess harvest, fruits are sold as a source of income. 

During the first week of December 2023, four team members from the Detroit Zoo traveled down to Peru to participate in fruit tree planting. The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation provided funding for fruit trees that are native to the Amazon rainforest to be grown and transported. Pedro Paurcarcaja, an arborist in Iquitos, Peru, grew the trees from cuttings and seeds. Each tree was cared for and allowed to grow to a size that could be successfully transplanted. The trees were then placed in crates by type and transported down the Amazon and Napo Rivers on a cargo barge. Thousands of trees were delivered to the designated communities. 

Each morning, we joined a group of volunteers and representatives from the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, CONAPAC staff and an experienced guide and translator from Explorama. We all took a boat to reach the designated community. Some of the trees went to individual families who expressed their interest and commitment to growing trees on land they have available. The families were responsible for planting their trees. Several hundred additional trees were planted in community spaces and for the schools. 

Before our arrival, the communities prepared areas previously used for agriculture, such as corn and banana palms. With shovels and post-hole diggers in hand, the FTPF representative carefully demonstrated how to plant the saplings to ensure they had the best chance of surviving. We worked alongside members of the community, especially the children, and planted the trees designated for the community and school areas. The planting wrapped up each morning shortly before lunchtime.  Spending several hours at each community provided opportunities to learn each other’s names, communicate in various forms (even if it was just smiles!), and gain a glimpse into the day-to-day life of our partners. 

For the final two days, we visited an additional community in the afternoon. Both communities planted trees several years ago through the FTPF initiative and proudly showed us the trees’ growth. Ramon Castilla shared with us that more than 90 percent of their trees had survived, which is an impressive feat considering the risk of insect and flooding damage. Their success was a testament to the trees being planted in the right areas and their commitment to caring for them. The community of Jorge Chavez treated us to fruit fresh off the trees, including papaya and star fruit. 

The community visits were also an opportunity to check in on the water purification systems, ensuring things were working correctly and the communities had access to safe, clean drinking water. For more information about CONAPAC’s clean water programming, click here.

Conservation work, especially when conducted in international settings, often does not address the needs or fundamental rights of the people who are directly impacted by laws and regulations that are put in place in the spirit of protecting animals and natural resources. While time-consuming, building meaningful relationships with individuals and communities who live adjacent to or share the same space as essential conservation areas can create vitally important allies. To do this well takes time and an investment in the wealth of knowledge and expertise of individuals who have lived for generations in the conservation areas. This partnership exemplifies the benefits of what collaborative conservation can accomplish. 

To contribute to the vital conservation work in the Amazon rainforest, click here.

Illuminate the Season by Recycling Your Holiday Lights at the Detroit Zoo

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The Detroit Zoo is collecting old holiday lights throughout January.

This holiday season has been filled with twinkling lights adorning houses, trees and festive sculptures across metro Detroit. But what happens when these lights dim and burn out, their glow reduced to mere electrical waste? 

With the holiday season now drawing to a close, the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) is welcoming community members to recycle their retired holiday lights with us! Individuals and families can bring in unwanted, burned-out or broken holiday lights to be recycled free of charge. The light collection runs through January at the guest services office near the front of the Zoo.

Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo features millions of twinkling lights — and those that burn out will be recycled sustainably!

Through this initiative, we can work together to alleviate the burden on landfills and champion a sustainable approach to handling electrical waste. As a bonus, donated lights will help raise money to fuel the Zoo’s sustainability programs. From planting trees throughout metro Detroit to inspiring the next generation of suitability leaders through GreenPrize, our programs are helping to build a greener future for all.  

By recycling your old lights at the Zoo, you’re not just disposing of unwanted holiday décor — you’re actively participating in a larger movement. You’re nurturing a cycle where discarded lights find new purpose, contributing to the DZS’s conservation work and supporting sustainability programs. 

Recycle your lights at the Zoo to help us ignite a brighter (and greener) future!

Join the GreenPrize Award Program and be an Eco-Champion!

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2022 GreenPrize Award Winning School: Renaissance High School

If you’ve ever dreamt of making your school, your community and the world a greener, more eco-friendly place, we have the program for you! The Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) is celebrating students who are on a mission to make a positive environmental impact with our GreenPrize initiative.

What is GreenPrize?

The GreenPrize Award Program is all about sustainability, student-led green initiatives and the power of Green Teams. These Green Teams are like eco-superheroes – school clubs dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability. They’re on a mission to create lasting change, both within their schools and out in the community.

2022 GreenPrize Award Winning School: Hayes Elementary

How does it work?

In a nutshell, GreenPrize participants roll up their sleeves and put their eco-passion into action. They develop and implement sustainable projects in their schools or communities that have the potential to make a lasting impact. This isn’t just about talk — it’s about tangible, positive change for our planet.

2022 GreenPrize Award Winning School: Sacred Heart Catholic School

A Glimpse Back: GreenPrize 2022

In 2022, the DZS awarded a grand total of $4,500 to Green Teams in participating schools across Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties. Among those awarded were Belleville High School, Hillel Day School, The Montessori School Rochester, Hayes Elementary School, Sacred Heart Catholic School and Renaissance High School. Their sustainable efforts made a real change — and yours can too.

2022 GreenPrize Award Winning School: Hillel Day School

Join the GreenPrize Movement

Now, the spotlight is on you! Don’t miss your chance to be part of the next round of GreenPrize. The 2023-2024 GreenPrize program is officially open for applications, and your school could be the next champion for the environment.

Visit detroitzoo.org/greenprize to learn more about the program, how to apply and how you can kickstart your journey as an eco-champion. It’s time to make a difference, inspire change and show the world what the next generation of environmentalists is made of!

Join the GreenPrize movement and help us paint the world green, one sustainable project at a time!

2022 GreenPrize Award Winning School: Belleville High School
2022 GreenPrize Award Winning School: The Montessori School Rochester

Celebrate World Oceans Day by Saying ‘No’ to Microplastics!

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Water bottle refill stations at the Detroit Zoo help cut down on single use plastics and keep microplastics out of waterways.

Authored by Cameron Kniffen, Curator of Education for the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS).

More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. As residents of Michigan, a state with beautiful, bountiful lakes and rivers, we tend to focus on freshwater systems when considering our impact on water quality, pollution and aquatic ecosystems. Many of us receive a thorough education on the vital role of the Great Lakes in our state’s history, economy and ecosystems. We are also taught to take responsibility for preserving our abundant water resources and to understand the negative effects of polluted waters on both people and the environment. It’s important to realize that our actions can impact water quality in the Great Lakes and other ecosystems outside of our freshwater sources. 

Many of us unknowingly contribute to the accumulation of microplastics in our waterways. Despite their small size, microplastics possess a significant potential to impact various species and ecosystems. Microplastics are tiny, minuscule plastic particles that can infiltrate virtually any environment — including the smallest, deepest crevasses of the ocean — and exert their harmful effects. Microplastics are produced by reducing plastic into miniature versions of its original manufactured form. While some microplastics are intentionally added to soaps and scrubs that contain microbeads, others are formed through prolonged exposure to the sun and constant movement in the water, causing the plastics to degrade into tiny particles. 

Microplastics harm ocean dwellers, like sea otters.

The accumulation of microplastics in our environment is an alarming concern due to their damaging effects on wildlife and their potential impact on human health. The ingestion of microplastics can cause physical harm to marine life. The particles can accumulate in the digestive tract, leading to blockages, ulcers and other internal injuries. This can result in severe malnutrition, starvation and even death. The presence of microplastics in marine organisms can also interfere with their feeding behavior, reproduction and growth rates.

Additionally, microplastics can have chemical and biological impacts on marine organisms. Plastic particles can contain or absorb toxic chemicals from their surroundings, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals. When these microplastics are ingested, the chemicals can leach out and be released into the organisms’ tissues, potentially causing toxicity and disrupting physiological functions.

Penguins, like these kings, benefit from clean ocean ways.

Furthermore, the potential for microplastics to enter the food chain and eventually impact human health is a growing concern. Seafood, such as fish, shellfish and mollusks, is an important source of protein and essential nutrients for many people around the world. As microplastics are ingested by marine organisms, they can bioaccumulate and pass through the food web, eventually reaching the seafood that humans consume. If these consumed organisms have ingested microplastics, there is a risk that humans may indirectly consume these particles when consuming contaminated seafood. Once ingested by humans, microplastics can potentially have adverse health effects.

Michigan’s Great Lakes area is an excellent demonstration of this interconnectedness. As plastic travels from local watersheds to the Great Lakes, it gradually breaks down into smaller fragments of plastic materials.  Microplastics can effortlessly hitch a ride in the waterways in this region and flow with the natural motions from west to east. Lake Superior flows those same microplastics into Lake Huron through the St. Mary’s River, and Lake Huron then seamlessly flows into Lake Erie through the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers. Finally, Lake Erie deposits the microplastics into Lake Ontario via the Niagara River. Ultimately, the entire system and its pollutants eventually drain into the Atlantic Ocean through the St. Lawrence River.

Polar bears Suka and Nuka’s diet includes seafood. Microplastics in seafood is a major concern for both animals and humans.

Working collaboratively and taking a thoughtful approach to our plastic consumption can positively impact the reduction of microplastics in our water systems. It’s important to consider products with minimal packaging and express our viewpoints to local and state governments in support of stronger recycling efforts and limits on plastic usage in manufacturing. Participating in beach clean-up events can also contribute to a cleaner future. However, it’s crucial we come together as a united front and advocate for regulations on large industrial manufacturers at a national and global level. Through advocacy and voting, communities can achieve significant change. With our collective efforts, we can create a brighter and cleaner future for all. 

The DZS is passionate about lessening our impact on our aquatic ecosystems. More than 10 years ago, the Detroit Zoo stopped carrying single-use plastic straws and lids and has made many more steps in the direction of a more sustainable future since then, including stopping the use of plastics bags at our gift shops and eliminating plastic bottle sales – which were previously our largest concession sale item – meant for single-use at all Detroit Zoo concessions, replacing them with reusable water bottles and water bottle refill stations. In celebration of World Oceans Day (June 8), we welcome you to join us at the Detroit Zoo and learn more about the ocean through educational programming on Saturday, June 10.

Help us Answer the Call to Save Gorillas in the Wild!

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Donate small, unused devices at The Detroit Zoo to help gorillas in the wild!

Authored by Aaron Jesue, animal care specialist for the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS). 

If a gorilla was on the other line, would you answer the call? The DZS and our dedicated supporters certainly would! 

Since 2019, the Detroit Zoo has helped answer the call to save gorillas around the world through the Gorillas on the Line…Answer the Call campaign. From February to April each year, we partner with Gorilla SAFE(Saving Animals from Extinction) for its global cell phone recycling challenge. Money raised by recycling used cell phones and small electronics through this challenge directly supports gorilla conservation initiatives in Africa.

Gorillas Kongo and Pende live at The Detroit Zoo.

If you haven’t heard about the Gorillas on the Line…Answer the Call campaign before, here’s the best part — it’s easy to participate. Participation can be as simple as dropping an old, unwanted phone off at the Zoo or as big as getting a Michigan school or major business on board to collect devices by the hundreds.  

The 2023 campaign starts Feb. 1 and runs through April 30, but we can continue sending in items through the second week of September. The DZS also never stops collecting electronics. We keep collection bins out at the Detroit Zoo all year long, so feel free to drop off your unwanted small devices on your next trip to the Zoo!

The Detroit Zoo has Gorillas on the Line donation boxes at our main gates, inside the Ford Education Center and at the Great Apes of Harambee habitat.

Now, you may be asking, how can my old electronics save gorillas?  

Every device sent to the Detroit Zoo gets sorted, packaged and mailed to an electronics recycling company in Louisville, Kentucky called ECO-Cell. From there, each device gets counted on a national scale for the Detroit Zoo. When the numbers are tabulated, each device equates to a different dollar amount, and that money is directly donated to gorilla conservation initiatives. This means that when you recycle your electronics at the Zoo, you are directly saving gorillas. 

Participating in the Gorillas on the Line challenge helps both gorillas at the Zoo and in the wild.

2023 marks the fifth year of the Gorillas on the Line campaign. The Detroit Zoo has participated every year, and each year we continue to grow and collect more devices to support gorillas in the wild. In our first year, we collected 490 devices and donated $204. In 2022, that number grew to 1,793 devices and $1,242. Since 2019, the DZS has donated 3,532 devices and $2,042. That’s amazing, and it’s because of our group effort — our troop collective. 

Last year, the Detroit Zoo finished the challenge third in North America in 2022, following only behind the Toronto Zoo and the Cincinnati Zoo. Overall, participants across the globe collected 10,359 devices and raised $7,540 for gorilla conservation.  

Though we have our eyes on first place for this year’s challenge, the important part is that every donation counts. Every device means another dollar going directly to Gorilla SAFE conservation organizations in Africa, so the next time you get a call from a gorilla, don’t leave them hanging!  Answer the call and save a species.

Are you ready to answer the call? Learn more here.  

Seeing Green: DZS Team Plants Trees in Metro Detroit

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DZS employees and their families are volunteering to plant trees throughout Metro Detroit.

Members of the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) team have been rolling up their sleeves and getting their hands dirty for a good cause. 

As part of our commitment to plant 2,000 trees at the Detroit Zoo, the Belle Isle Nature Center and throughout all of Metro Detroit, we have partnered with Greening of Detroit, a member of the Metro Detroit Nature Network, along with American Forests, the Oakland County Economic Development Department and Royal Oak Township to lead or co-sponsor five tree plantings throughout the area this fall. 

We have been thrilled to partner with Greening of Detroit, a nonprofit organization focused on enhancing the quality of life for Detroiters by planting trees, providing job training and involving youth in education about the natural environment. So far, we have completed three of our five plantings, and our staff is having a blast making our communities — quite literally — greener!

At a recent event, DZS employees and their families volunteered their Saturday morning to plant trees along Cloverlawn Avenue and surrounding streets in Detroit. After three hours of digging through compacted soil and clay, we were left with 50 brand-new trees lining both sides of the street. These trees will not only beautify the area, but they will also play an important role in the neighborhood environment. In addition to providing shade and habitat for local wildlife, planting trees in urban areas has been shown to reduce stormwater runoff and improve air quality. 

“These plantings are a lot of work — and a lot of fun,” says Andy McDowell, DZS manager of sustainability. “The DZS has always been committed to environmental sustainability, and now our team is thrilled to give back to local communities and make the world greener one tree at a time.” 

Interested in signing up for one of our remaining tree plantings in Metro Detroit? Click here.

Flying High: Celebrating World Migratory Bird Day

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, not Christmas — bird migration season! It’s the time of year when birds who left Michigan during the winter months to find refuge in warmer states make their triumphant return. Look outside, and you are likely to see robins, Canada geese and sandhill cranes among the birds flying in the spring Michigan skies, happy to be back after a cold winter away.

American robin, Jennifer Harte

While everyone at the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) celebrates these birds every day, we are encouraging the public to join us in celebrating and raising awareness around the conservation of local species on World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) May 14.

WMBD, formerly International Migratory Bird Day, is an annual campaign highlighting the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats. Through a collaboration of festivals and events from partners across the globe, WMBD brings awareness to the threats migratory birds face, as well as the birds’ ecological importance and the need for bird conservation.

Sandhill crane, Patti Truesdell

While all aspects of bird conservation are important, this year the organizations behind WMBD are focusing on fighting light pollution and harm it can cause to migratory birds.

Light pollution, or the inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light, affects our world in numerous ways, from limiting our view of the night sky to disrupting human sleep patterns. However, light pollution’s most devastating impacts are felt by wildlife — and migratory birds are no exception.

Most birds migrate at night due to the calm skies and lack of predators. These birds use the moon and stars to guide their way — a system that has worked for eons. However, with light pollution encroaching further and further along the night sky (at a rate of increase of at least 2 percent per year, according to the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Institute), migratory birds’ journeys are becoming increasingly dangerous. Read our recent blog post to learn more about light pollution and how to mitigate its effects on local wildlife.

When artificial lights from nearby cities enter the night sky, migrating birds can become distracted and veer off course into threatening territory. When distracted by light pollution, birds become more likely to land in dangerous areas, where they are prone to collisions and vulnerable to unfamiliar predators.

One of the biggest dangers presented to birds drawn into urban areas impacted by light pollution is needlessly illuminated office buildings. According to the International Dark Sky Association, millions of birds in the United States die each year by colliding with empty office buildings and towers that are lit up at night. Additionally, light pollution impacts migration patterns, confusing and disrupting mating and feeding schedules.

Canada geese returning to summer in Michigan.

All of this information paints a bleak portrait for the future of the feathered fowl who migrate across the U.S., but don’t lose hope! There are things each and every one of us can do to help local birds travel safely.

• First, turn off your lights at night. Unused lights, particular in unused office buildings, present a great danger to traveling fowl.

• Second, make the switch to shielded outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting should be shielded and directed downward, where it can illuminate the ground rather than contaminate the night sky.

• Third, research and follow bird-safe habits that help reduce the hazards birds face during the migration process. In addition to turning lights off at night, these practices can include installing screens, decorative window film or window art to help prevent birds from hitting glass; moving feeders as close to windows as possible and bleaching bird feeders once a month; and practicing green gardening by growing native plants and avoiding insecticides.

Window decals can be added to increase visibility and reduce bird-strike.

The DZS has long been a supporter and practitioner of bird-safe initiatives. In 2017, we made it official by partnering with the Metro Detroit Nature Network, now known as SEMI Wild, which signed the Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds, designating Metro Detroit an Urban Bird Treaty area. Among other things, the treaty promotes bird conservation through Lights Out programs. Now, five years later, we are proud to promote these Lights Out programs, which encourage organizations and individuals to turn off or reduce interior and exterior lights during spring and fall migration, in honor of WMBD.

While there is much to be done to provide our feathered friends with safe travels this migration season, know that you can play a part by turning off one light at a time.

–Bonnie Van Dam is the curator of birds for the Detroit Zoological Society.

Addressing Climate Change by Creating a Greener Community

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As you walk through The Detroit Zoo, you may notice a lot of trees (follow along on our Trek). Trees are essential to the health of people, animals and the planet, which is why we are committed to taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint by adding even more to our lush grounds.

The Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) pledged to add a total of 2,000 trees by the end of 2022 to our campuses and in Metro Detroit communities. The average tree absorbs 48 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) and 1,673 gallons of storm water every year. Adding 2,000 trees (to the 7,000 trees currently growing at the Detroit Zoo), will make a big difference for nearby communities by helping to improve air and water quality. We have partnered with ReLeaf Michigan to help us organize group planting projects across Metro Detroit. 

In 2021, the DZS planted 641, and we have full confidence in our ability to plant our total goal by the end of this year. Most recently, Oakland County planted five trees donated by the DZS in celebration of Earth Day 2022.

We are well on our way to achieving our goal of making the world a greener place through sustainable practices such as tree planting.

In addition to other environmental benefits, trees and other vegetation reduce heat island effect (urbanized areas experiencing higher than average temperatures) by providing shade. According to the EPA, shaded surfaces may be 20–45°F cooler than the peak temperatures of unshaded materials. The benefits from trees don’t stop there – they also provide shelter and food for birds, insects, and other critters such as squirrels. These animals then disperse the trees’ seeds, allowing new saplings to grow. 

We are meticulously selecting a variety of species of trees to add biodiversity to our campus, as well as focusing on native species, browsable trees (clippings that make great snacks for the animals who live at Detroit Zoo), habitat value (for example, birds are attracted to oak trees), and resistance to climate change.

Our tree planting initiative is only one of the steps we are taking to create greener future. The DZS has developed a unique, green roadmap called the Greenprint. This evolving plan guides our operations and is the plan by which we refine and improve our facilities and daily practices, develop new policies and programs and improve green literacy and action in our community. 

View our Shades of Green guide to learn more ways in which you can help lighten your impact on the Earth and the animals that we share it with.

Out of the Shadows: Celebrating International Dark Sky Week

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Many of our older guests at the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center can likely remember a time when they looked up and saw a sea of stars peppered across the night sky, clear enough to count the constellations.

Today, things are different. As populations and industry have grown, artificial light has seeped into our night sky to the point where many of the younger generation have never seen a truly dark sky.

This month, the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) is raising awareness around this unfortunate phenomenon by helping our guests understand how they can protect our naturally dark night skies — and, in turn, help the animals we all know and love.

April 22-30 is International Dark Sky Week hosted by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). The IDA’s main goal is to fight against light pollution, which is the inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light. Research from the IDA and other institutions indicates light pollution can have serious environmental consequences for wildlife, the climate and human health.

How does light pollution harm your favorite animals?

Some of the most devastating impacts of light pollution have been to animals and their habitats. For an example, look no further than sea turtles. Though this species lives in the ocean, sea turtles hatch at night on the beach, with hatchlings finding their way to the water by detecting the bright horizon over the ocean. Artificial lights have been known to confuse hatchlings and draw them away from the water and away from survival. In the U.S. alone, millions of sea turtles die this way each year.

Closer to home, light pollution can have a harmful effect on bird populations. Birds who hunt or migrate at night use light from the moon and stars to guide their way. Artificial lights cause these birds to wander off course and into cities, where they are met with dangerous terrain. Once attracted to illuminated areas, birds collide with the glass of needlessly lit buildings and towers. According to the IDA, millions of birds die this way each year. Additionally, migratory birds depend on cues from properly timed seasonal schedules. Light pollution can cause these birds to migrate too early or too late and miss ideal climate conditions for nesting, foraging and other behaviors.

Outside of these two species, the effect of light pollution on wildlife can be subtler but no less harmful. Nocturnal animals have had their nighttime environments radically altered by light pollution, taking away the darkness prey species use for protection and confusing animals such as frogs and toads, who use nighttime croaking as part of their breeding rituals.

Artificial lights have been shown to disrupt normal nocturnal behaviors, causing inference with breeding and decreasing animal populations, according to the IDA. The worst part? Researchers are only just beginning to understand the ways light pollution has harmed animals and their environments.

What is the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) doing about light pollution?

DZS and Belle Isle Nature Center staff strongly believe in the importance of nurturing, celebrating and protecting the night sky everywhere. While Belle Isle will likely never be fully dark due to its proximity to the city, we do everything we can to preserve the island’s nighttime darkness and protect local wildlife.

The DZS is a partner with the Metro Detroit Nature Network, now known as SEMI Wild, which in 2017 signed the Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds, designating Metro Detroit an Urban Bird Treaty area. Among other things, the treaty promotes bird conservation through Lights Out programs. These programs, of which we are enthusiastic supporters, implement dark sky policies encouraging organizations and individuals to turn off or reduce interior and exterior lights during spring and fall migration to help provide safe passage to migratory birds — potentially saving the lives of thousands of our feathered friends in the Detroit area each year.

Another way we continue to protect dark skies is through community education and promoting programs that educate the public about the natural night sky and what the average person can do to fight light pollution.

This International Dark Sky Week, tune into the Detroit Zoo Facebook page to see multiple posts about dark skies, their connection to wildlife and how the DZS is celebrating the week.

You can also join us from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7 for Statewide Astronomy Night. The Wayne State University Planetarium at the Belle Isle Nature Center will be hosting a free, outdoor-only event, where guests can observe the night sky through a variety of telescopes and binoculars. Wayne State presenters will also be on hand to offer tours of the constellations and conduct exciting demonstrations. The Nature Center will also host an installment of its Nature at Night series, where you can learn all about how local nocturnal animals navigate a nighttime world.

What can you do to fight light pollution?

While the problem of light pollution can seem insurmountable, every little action taken can make a big difference. Here are three things you can do at home and in your community to support naturally dark skies:

• Eliminate unnecessary indoor lighting. Unused lights — particularly in empty office buildings at night – should be turned off.

• Make the switch to shielded outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting should be shielded and directed downward, where it can illuminate the ground rather than contaminate the night sky.

• Research and spread the word! Visit the IDA website to learn about light pollution and the organization’s efforts to preserve dark skies. Then become an advocate for them! Talk to your friends and family to raise awareness around light pollution and help them understand why they should make changes to protect the night sky.

If we all take steps to reduce light pollution in our own homes and neighborhoods, there is a chance that one day future generations — and their furriest friends — will be able to look up and lose count of the stars scattered across the dark night sky.

– Amy Greene is the nature centers director for the DZS.

Detroit Zoological Society Honored with International Sustainability Award

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The Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) has been recognized by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) as the recipient of the 2020 Environmental Sustainability Award. The DZS is the first zoo or aquarium to receive environmental sustainability top honors from both WAZA and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (2015).

“We are so appreciative of this wonderful recognition by our peers,” said Ron Kagan, executive director and CEO for the Detroit Zoological Society. “The entire organization has committed to this journey toward environmental sustainability.”

The Greenprint Program is at the heart of the DZS’s efforts; it’s a sustainability roadmap that invites organizations and individuals to actively help the planet we all share. 

“The DZS strives to be a green leader and uses Greenprint to refine and improve facilities, business practices and educational initiatives,” said Rachel Handbury, manager of sustainability for the Detroit Zoological Society. 

The discontinuation of single-use water bottle sales at the Detroit Zoo in 2015 is just one of the many major sustainability initiatives led by the Detroit Zoological Society. This effort has kept more than 60,000 plastic bottles out of the waste stream annually. 

To further reduce waste, the DZS built an anaerobic digester in 2016 to compost 1 million pounds of manure and food waste annually. Every year, the digester allows the organization to divert over 500 tons of animal manure, bedding and food waste away from landfills, instead creating nutrient-rich compost and renewable energy. 

While the DZS is well on its way towards zero-waste operations, the organization’s sustainability work goes beyond what happens on the campuses of the Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center.

“From community cleanup efforts to recycling programs to green education events, helping people understand and care about the planet is at the forefront of our efforts,” said Kagan. “We’re always looking for ways to involve the community and inspire them to join us on this green journey.”

– Alexandra Bahou is the communications manager for the Detroit Zoological Society.