The Town of Wake Forest is in the process of creating a new Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP). The new UFMP will provide a roadmap for managing the community's public trees over the next decade and beyond. The UFMP will assess the condition of the 21,000 public trees shading Wake Forest’s streets and parks by analyzing on-the-ground inventory data and big-picture tree canopy data.
The core component of this plan is to work with the community and Town staff to develop a shared vision for the future of Wake Forest’s trees. The UFMP will then lay out the goals and actions needed to reach that vision. The Town’s last UFMP was developed in 2013 and is linked below. This current planning effort will provide important updates on how the urban forest has evolved over the last 13 years
Wake Forest has contracted the urban forestry firm PlanIT Geo to help guide engagement, research, and development of the UFMP. The project began in early 2026 and is anticipated to be completed by spring of 2027. There will be several opportunities for public input on this project through the summer and fall of 2026. For more information check out the key dates and links below.
Project Dates & Documents
Virtual Community Workshop: New Urban Forest Management Plan Tuesday, Sept 22 | 6-7:15 pm
The Town will host a virtual Community Workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 6-7 p.m. to review the results of the community survey and gather input on goals for the new Urban Forest Management Plan.
A public survey on urban forest priorities collected responses from July 7 through August 14. The 310 responses are currently being summarized, and the results will be shared in a report and at the Community Workshop meeting.
Complete - Virtual Community Kickoff Meeting: New Urban Forest Management Plan Tuesday, July 28
The Town hosted a virtual Community Kickoff Public Meeting on Tuesday, July 28 to share the ongoing process of developing a new Urban Forest Management Plan and solicit public input. The meeting recording and slides are available below.
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.
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.
