By HARC’s Dr. Ryan Bare, Nature-Based Solutions Program Director, and Kirsten Vernin, Research Associate in Watershed Quality
Nestled within the forest, nature and people strike a balance at HARC’s campus in The Woodlands — a testament to thoughtful sustainable design. Here, sustainable site development is more than a philosophy; it’s a practice woven into every aspect of the landscape. Native plants and trees are preserved, ecological restoration techniques are embraced, and stormwater is carefully managed with bioswales, a form of green stormwater infrastructure. These efforts minimize ecological disruption while also demonstrating the benefits of going green.
HARC’s commitment to habitat preservation goes above and beyond your average landscaping. For example, we have designated high biodiversity areas as exclusion zones, meaning these productive spaces have been intentionally set aside, not to be touched or developed. The result is two acres of landscape where urban tranquility unfolds — a gentle hush broken only by the distant hum of commuters along a nearby thoroughfare, obscured from view. The campus reflects a “design with nature” philosophy, seamlessly integrating the built and natural environments, creating a space where both can thrive.
At HARC, sustainability isn’t just a goal — it’s a practice that yields tangible environmental benefits. From enhancing air quality to capturing carbon and managing water more effectively, the campus stands as a proactive solution to climate challenges. The preserved trees — only a portion of the natural benefits the campus has to offer — are one way to demonstrate the power of sustainable design. Each year, the trees prevent an estimated 29,900 gallons of stormwater runoff — adding up to a remarkable 897,000 gallons over 30 years[1]. That’s the equivalent of keeping more than 1.3 Olympic-sized swimming pools from flooding the area, easing pressure on local waterways and helping to reduce the impacts of heavy rain.
But the benefits don’t stop there. The trees on campus store an estimated 58.69 tons of carbon (or 215.2 tons of CO2 equivalent[2]), playing a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gases. To put that into perspective, this amount of carbon translates to the annual electricity consumption of 52 homes. With no plans for further development, the forested areas on-site will store the carbon for generations to come.
And the air we breathe? HARC’s trees work tirelessly to purify it, removing an estimated 153 pounds of air pollution annually. This includes pollutants like nitrogen dioxide (8.67 lbs), ozone (96.53 lbs), sulfur dioxide (2.07 lbs), and fine particulate matter (PM), with 6.08 lbs of PM2.5 and 38.24 lbs of PM10 filtered out each year. Over a 30-year period, this adds up to the equivalent of removing an astonishing 4,596 pounds of air pollution, which contributes to improving the quality of air for residents[3].
At the community scale, The Woodlands serves as a shining example of green infrastructure thriving alongside urban development. Despite a growing population, the community has maintained an impressive tree canopy, the layer of tree leaves, branches, and stems that cover the ground when viewed from above[4]. This sprawling green space isn’t just for show — it plays a critical role in environmental and community health. The trees absorb 14,746 tons of carbon annually, which is about the same level of emissions produced from 10,571 gas powered vehicles. When storms roll through, The Woodlands’ canopy acts as a natural buffer, preventing 198 million gallons of runoff each year. This reduces flooding, protects infrastructure, and helps local waterways stay cleaner. Meanwhile, the trees also function as an air purifier, scrubbing the atmosphere of pollutants equivalent to removing a total of 10,723 pounds of carbon monoxide, 604,364 pounds of ozone, 65,265 pounds of nitrogen dioxide, 16,053 pounds of sulfur dioxide, and 36,995 pounds of PM2.5 from the atmosphere every year[5].
These numbers reveal a profound truth that the green-benefit balance approach isn’t just a tool for beautification — it offers a powerhouse of benefits, quietly working to make life healthier and more resilient for everyone. By prioritizing sustainable design, HARC and The Woodlands are proving that development and conservation don’t have to be at odds. In fact, they can complement each other, creating spaces that flourish and function. As Texas looks toward the future, HARC stands as a beacon of innovation, showcasing how thoughtful design can embrace progress while safeguarding the environment. The campus is more than a place of work and research; it’s a living, breathing model of climate resilience in action — a glimpse of what’s possible when nature and development grow hand in hand.
[1] i-Tree. (2025, March, 13). i-Tree Canopy [Web application]. https://canopy.itreetools.org/.
[2] i-Tree. (2025, March, 13). i-Tree Canopy [Web application]. https://canopy.itreetools.org/.
CO2 equivalent is a measure that translates emissions from gases like methane and nitrous oxide into the same climate warming potential as carbon dioxide (CO2).
[3] i-Tree. (2025, March, 13). i-Tree Canopy [Web application]. https://canopy.itreetools.org/.
[5] i-Tree. (2025, March, 27). OurTrees (version 1.15.1) [Web application]. https://ourtrees.itreetools.org/#/.
