Abstract
The nocturnal environment emerged as a concept following the reclassification of “artificial light at night” as light pollution. It aims to define the human and non-human systems functionally associated with darkness. Unlike the notion of light pollution, it requires us to think about the multiple issues of both artificial light and darkness together. By placing it within the analytical framework of socio-ecological systems, we make the nocturnal environment a research object in its own right, one which is suitable for building an interdisciplinary approach between natural sciences and human and social sciences. We test this relational object in the real world on the island of Reunion, working with the Réunion National Park on a collaborative project focusing on the planning issues arising from its commitment toa holistic approach to preserving darkness as a resource and the nocturnal environment. We show the emergence of this collaborative mechanism for the production of scientific knowledge on the nocturnal environment and for support for the territory in its efforts to protect and enhance darkness. Finally, moving from knowledge to action, this article presents a research design and research-action initiative whose strength lies in a radical interdisciplinarity.