As part of the Future Circular Collider (FCC) studies, environmental specialists are carrying out inventories of wildlife, flora and natural habitats in France and Switzerland. Before any decision is taken on the project, this work aims to establish a baseline of the areas under consideration and to provide an improved understanding of any potential environmental issues.

As part of their fieldwork, specialists are observing species and their habitats, recording the characteristics of the natural environment and installing monitoring devices. The data collected will help identify areas of ecological importance and determine which further studies, if any, are needed.

The inventories cover an extended perimeter around the proposed path of the FCC tunnel. Although the FCC is still under review, this work is already helping to deepen our understanding of local natural habitats and ensure that ecological considerations are taken into account in discussions about the project.

Read the full article on the “CERN and its Neighbours” website.