In the I International Starlight Conference (April 2007) promoted by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, born the principles and recommendations contained in the "Declaration in Defense of the Night Sky and the Right to Starlight" (Declaration of La Palma or Starlight Declaration). After this conference, the Starlight Foundation is created as the entity responsible for the development and promotion of the Declaration of La Palma.
Its main goals are the protection of the night sky, the cultural diffusion of the astronomy and the local sustainable economic development through astrotourism. To achieve these objectives, the international Starlight Certification system is created, aimed at promoting, worldwide, a different way of caring for and defending the sky, valuing it as a necessary resource for life and as an intangible heritage of humanity, guaranteeing the ability to enjoy the light of the stars and the development of activities based on this resource. Starlight Certification brings science and tourism together for the first time and is supported by the UNWTO and IAU. READ ON