Get Involved to Protect Raleigh’s Trees

How to Get Involved to Protect Raleigh’s Trees

By Kate Dixon, Chair of Raleigh’s Sustainability, Wildlife and Urban Trees (SWUT) Committee

We are all concerned about the ongoing development of land across the city. One way to minimize the impact is to retain and replant as many trees as possible. Homebuilders, developers, landscape architects, and residents all have the power to create a greener city while Raleigh grows.

To help Raleigh remain the City of Oaks, there are three things you can do right now:

1. Make your voice heard in the Comprehensive Planning process
2. Get involved with the City’s effort to write a tree canopy protection plan called “Leaf Out”
3. Plant and preserve trees on your own property

Comprehensive Plan Update

Raleigh is updating its Comprehensive Plan (the long-term vision that guides policies on growth, development, and sustainability), and one of six topics the City is seeking input on is trees. You can share your ideas at two planned meetings this March in a series called Branching Out: Trees and Urban Ecosystems. These events will feature expert speakers discussing the programs, solutions, and benefits of preserving the tree canopy, and give attendees an opportunity to share their ideas. Sign up now to attend either/both:

Tuesday, March 11 | 6-8 p.m.
Keynote Presentation
Durant Nature Preserve, Campbell Lodge

Tuesday, March 18 | 6-8 p.m.
State of the City and Community Conversation
Dix Park Chapel

To register, please click here. (For information on comprehensive plan, visit: Raleigh’s Next Comprehensive Plan)

Leaf Out Tree Canopy Protection Plan

In addition, the City Council asked the SWUT committee of its Parks, Recreation and Greenways Advisory Board to help develop a detailed “Leaf Out” plan for how to

1. protect and expand tree canopy on city-owned land and right of way, and
2. encourage residents to plant and protect trees on their own properties.

To learn more about Leaf Out, click here.

Leaf Out recently commissioned a survey to better understand how the Raleigh community values its trees and green spaces. Over 570 people responded and shared their ideas about how to protect Raleigh’s urban tree canopy and natural ecosystems. Review the results and comments here.

Interested in joining the Leaf Out efforts?

Contact Kate Dixon, chair of the Sustainability, Wildlife and Urban Trees Committee, at kated1316@gmail.com

Plant Native Trees

All trees aren’t created equal when it comes to benefitting pollinators and wildlife. Native trees and shrubs are essential for the nectar and food supply to support the food chain. For example, an oak tree supports over 500 species of pollinator insects, birds and mammals — more than any other tree species.

In contrast, the crape myrtle tree supports no local wildlife.  So simply choosing native trees and shrubs in lieu of non-native trees and shrubs in the residential and commercial setting will make a significant impact. (Here is a sample list from Cary of approved and prohibited species.)

If you are interested in protecting our trees, please consider doing one or all the recommendations outlined above – attend the Branching Out information and input sessions, learn more about Leaf Out and how you can be involved, and consider planting native species the next time you garden or plan a new development.

Raleigh is a city that values its trees and all they have to offer. Our trees improve air and water quality, shade our streets and homes, capture carbon dioxide, and create a sense of place. They prevent soil erosion, support wildlife, and control stormwater.

Trees make our city beautiful, increase property values, and foster a sense of well-being in our neighborhoods. Trees are essential to life and essential to Raleigh – even as we grow.

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