Einstein Telescope and Grenzeloos Bocageland: collaboration on regional vision
By signing a charter, the Grenzeloos Bocageland Landscape Park and the Einstein Telescope EMR project office have agreed to collaborate on a landscape area vision. The aim is for both organisations to align their ambitions and integrate them where possible. This mainly concerns the way in which the underground telescope will be integrated into the landscape.
Grenzeloos Bocageland is working on an approach to prepare the region’s landscape for the challenges of the future. The Einstein Telescope project office is investigating the feasibility of constructing the underground telescope. Part of this involves integrating the telescope into the landscape and the social fabric of the region.
Regenerative
It is important that this study has a regenerative and “landscape-positive” starting point. This means, among other things, that where the construction of the Einstein Telescope requires interventions in the landscape, the ambition is to restore that landscape to a better condition after construction, rather than simply “repairing” it.
With the Charter, Bocageland is aligning itself with the study being carried out by the Einstein Telescope project office through the HeusschenCopier Landschapskracht agency. This agency has previously carried out exploratory studies for both Bocageland and the Einstein Telescope.
Common
The area covered by the Charter concerns the “Bocage municipalities” of Plombières, Dalhem and Aubel on the Walloon side, Voeren in Flanders and Eijsden-Margraten, Gulpen-Wittem and Vaals in Dutch Limburg. All these municipalities fall within the search area for the Einstein Telescope, which is larger than just these seven municipalities.
Autonomous
The results of this regional vision can be used by Einstein Telescope and Grenzeloos Bocageland to substantiate individual feasibility studies, bid book contributions, operational plans or project initiatives, for example.
Common ground
Although the objective of the Einstein Telescope EMR project office differs from that of Grenzeloos Bocagelandschap, there are important areas of common ground. Bocageland is working to improve the bocage landscape. Part of this involves avoiding or reducing disruptive developments. These disruptive developments are often detrimental to the proper functioning of the Einstein Telescope.
Signature
The Charter was signed in Aubel by chairman Joris Gaens, vice-chairpersons Nadine Steijns-Huids and Benoît Dorthu, and coordinator Ann-Sophie Debergh of Grenzeloos Bocageland. On behalf of the Einstein Telescope project office, Olivier Granville from the management team and Johan Rutten as environmental manager signed the Charter.
Joris Gaens, chairman of the Grenzeloos Bocageland Landscape Park:
‘A peaceful environment is important for the research that the Einstein Telescope will carry out. The quality of our landscape goes beyond silence. Thanks to the charter, a broad vision is being developed that not only examines possible effects but also identifies opportunities that the arrival of the Einstein Telescope may have to strengthen the landscape and the rural economy.’
Olivier Granville, management team Einstein Telescope EMR:
‘We have always stated that we view the fantastic landscape with respect. Where we have to intervene during construction, we feel obliged, within our capabilities, to leave it better than we found it after construction. And where we have to build something, it should fit perfectly into that landscape. With this Charter, we are reaffirming our intentions.’
