Urban Forestry in North Carolina

Our Goals
Protect and expand urban forests in North Carolina to provide vital habitat for birds and healthy environments for people.
What We’re Doing
We work with chapters and partners to advocate for local urban forestry policies and provide technical assistance to towns and cities beginning to tackle these issues.
Brown-headed Nuthatch perched in a tree with a sunflower seed in its beak. Photo: Keith Burroughs/³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Photography Awards
Brown-headed Nuthatch. Photo: Keith Burroughs/³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Photography Awards

Urban forests provide vital habitat for birds; they’re also disappearing at an alarming rate. North Carolina has nearly 4 million acres of urban forest. We’re losing this forest faster than any other forest type, and most of these losses are due to development. We envision a future where healthy trees and forests in North Carolina’s towns and cities provide habitat for birds and clean air and green spaces for all people. We do this through advocating alongside our chapters for local policies that promote density, retain existing tree canopy, and when possible, increase canopy cover. We also provide technical assistance to chapters, partners, and landowners looking to implement projects or improve their backyard urban forests. 

People birding in a city. Photo: Sydney Walsh/³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ
Join our Urban Forestry Network Call
Prothonotary Warbler perched on a tree branch vocalizing. Photo: Jeff Kingsfield/³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Photography Awards
Urban Forestry Resources
Project Team
Headshot of Hannah Pursley

Hannah Pursley

Project Manager, Forests

Dana Sargent

Community Building Director