Urban Forest Management Plan
Wake Forest is recognized for its continuing commitment to maintaining an attractive and productive urban forest. Currently, the town is responsible for 14,700 street trees, 630 acres of forests, and more than 1,100 maintained trees in parks and town property. There are approximately 5,400 sites where additional trees may be planted in the future. Presently, the town's street trees provide annual benefits valued at approximately $389,000 and have an estimated replacement value of $16.9 million.
In 2013 the town adopted an Urban Forest Management Plan:
To identify the town's goals and priorities for managing its trees and forests
To describe the current status of the town's urban forest resources and its management program
To document the methods, resources, and personnel that will be used to achieve these goals over the next five years
Additionally, Town Ordinance Sec. 34-74 requires the Urban Forestry Board "To study, investigate, counsel, develop and/or update annually, and administer a written plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal or disposition of trees, shrubs and other planting materials in parks, street and utility rights of way and easements and any other public areas. This plan shall constitute the official town urban forestry plan."
This document is intended to fulfill this obligation by the Urban Forestry Board.