Unlocking the Carbon Potential of Stanford’s Open Lands

Stanford University’s expansive undeveloped lands host an extraordinary secret – a vast reservoir of stored carbon that could reshape our understanding of how a university campus contributes to carbon storage. Recent studies by the Stanford Conservation Program reveal that these ecosystems store over half a million tons of carbon. This research marks the first time that Stanford’s nature-based carbon pools are being quantified with such precision.

Now, as part of the Sustainable Stanford Living Lab Fellowship Program, under the mentorship of Esther Cole Adelsheim, an initiative is under way to account for stored carbon in Stanford’s open spaces. “This project is unlike anything Stanford has done before,” says Tanya Arora, a Living Lab Fellow and one of the project’s leads. “Accurately measuring carbon in our ecosystems is crucial. Not only does it provide a clearer picture of our environmental impact, but it also opens up new avenues for climate action. It’s a major step forward in understanding the potential of our own lands as natural carbon sinks.”

With newly developed, robust carbon accounting methods, the project delivers valuable insights that enhance emissions calculations, enrich academic research in environmental science, and support Stanford’s climate action planning. Preliminary estimates suggest that Stanford’s undeveloped lands store over 300,000 tons of organic carbon in soil and aboveground plant biomass – roughly the amount found in the gasoline used by over 240,000 cars in a year. Furthermore, emerging research from this study indicates that restoration of native plant communities in Stanford open space may offer additional opportunities for carbon sequestration, broadening our understanding of the role that nature plays in supporting the well-being of our campus and global community.

Stanford’s commitment to understanding the contribution of local ecosystems to the carbon pools for which it is responsible is a testament to its leadership in environmental research. The work being done today not only refines our understanding of campus-based carbon pools but also lays the foundation for future strategies that could help offset emissions. In this evolving approach to carbon management, Stanford’s lands are proving to be far more than just a scenic backdrop. They are a living, measurable solution in the fight against climate change.