Anacamptis pyramidalis, part of Cern's natural grounds

Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Cern, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, has been given a “Nature & Economie” award by the Swiss organization of that name, for its role in encouraging biological diversity at its Meyrin site.

Some 38 percent of the 80 hectares at the Meyrin site, which is on the French-Swiss border, is given over to green areas. They include natural flowerbeds where rare plant species have developed over a number of years. Between 1,000 and 3,000 plants of 19  species of orchid flower in these areas every year, including several hundred of the bee orchid – the rare and protected species Ophrys Apifera.

Cern notes in a press release on the award that it gives priority to the natural management of green areas and avoids the use of pesticides. It lists several other aspects of its environmental policy:

• Cern sites include several sheep pastures. The sheep contribute to the upkeep of the grounds and at the same time bring a rural touch to the immediate vicinity of the industrial buildings.
• a new physicists’ building under construction will have a green roof.
• a campaign to re-plant indigenous tree species on the site is also planned for next year.
• its 500-strong bicycle fleet,  which it lends to visitors free of charge, is one of the largest of its kind in Switzerland.

Late mowing

Nature & Economie is an initiative started by the Swiss Department of Environmental Affairs in 1997, which developed into a public-private partnership to encourage companies to respect nature on their own business sites. A company or organization must meet a number of criteria, including at least 30 percent of the landscaping given to natural areas. Herbicides, fungicides and insecticides are not permitted and natural prairies must not be cut more than twice a year. More than 378 companies and organizations are now certified.

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