Nature has never been so close to you. Observe, learn about and protect this living heritage!
Our nature in real time
Connected environment on the sentier de Francon
This page accompanies the information panel you came across along the trail. It provides further information on the research projects being carried out in the Francon area, and on the innovative tools being used to better understand and preserve the local natural heritage.
The ECONECT project
ECONECT is a research project led by the CNRS and its partners, and funded by the Occitanie Region with European funds (from 2020 to 2023), which aimed to develop new ways of monitoring the health of ecosystems. It relies on so-called ‘sentinel’ organisms — such as bees, birds or aquatic organisms — that are sensitive to changes in their environment.
These organisms are paired with connected sensors capable of automatically collecting data (temperature, humidity, biological activity, water quality, etc.) and transmitting it to research platforms.
The TERRA FORMA project

TERRA FORMA (2021–2029) is the continuation and expansion of the ECONECT project. It is a national research programme that aims to create a new generation of environmental observatories.
Its objective is to gain a better understanding of the links between biodiversity, air, water and soil quality, and human activities. To this end, TERRA FORMA relies on networks of smart sensors, long-term data collection and advanced digital tools to analyse and visualise this information.
These observatories not only advance scientific research but also generate knowledge that is useful to local authorities, farmers and natural area managers to support decision-making on the ground.