Trees Impacted By HMNS Expansion Relocated
Trees are vital to the overall quality of our environment – but their existence is often threatened by development. This is why the Houston Museum of Natural Science will relocate and replace all of the trees that will be impacted by the Museum’s planned expansion. While the City of Houston code requirements only call for replacing a few of the trees, the staff and board of trustees of the Museum have committed to relocating and replacing all of the trees that will be displaced by the Museum’s new Duncan Family Wing.
“Our mission is to engage and educate visitors about the wonders of the natural world, and to preserve and conserve it for the future. Our commitment to this mission inspired the staff and board of the Houston Museum of Natural Science to initiate a plan—one that far exceeds city code requirements—and make the financial commitment necessary to ensure that no trees were lost to Hermann Park because of our planned expansion,” said Joel A. Bartsch, president of the Houston Museum of Natural Science. “Working with Hermann Park Conservancy and the Parks and Recreation Department to relocate and replace these trees underscores our commitment, not only to our mission, but also to the park, the people of the city of Houston and to future generations.”
According to the USDA Forest Service, trees serve many purposes: they release oxygen, help purify the air we breathe by absorbing pollutants; cool our cities and towns by reducing heat generated by buildings and paved surfaces; reduce the amount of pollutants in sewer systems; provide habitat for birds and other wildlife; and much more.