12
Urban Forest Resources and Recommendations
Wake Forest’s Tree Resources: Tree Canopy, Forests and Public Trees
tree canopy coverage Tree canopy coverage is a measure of the portion of the town that is shaded by trees. Digital aerial photos taken during the 2010 growing season and iTree Canopy software were used to estimate townwide canopy cover at 44% ± 3% (Figure 2).
American Forests’ General Tree Canopy Goals American Forests, a national not-for-profit conservation organization, has developed tree canopy goals for various areas in the United States, with the following recommended generally for cities east of the Mississippi:
WATER 2%
CANOPY 44%
NON-CANOPY 54%
• 40% tree canopy overall • 50% tree canopy in suburban residential areas • 25% tree canopy in urban residential areas • 15% tree canopy in central business districts
NON-CANOPY 54%
FIGURE 2: Approximately 44% of Wake Forest was shaded by trees in 2010
TABLE 1: Urban Tree Canopy in North Carolina Municipalities
CITY
TREE CANOPY COVERAGE
TREE CITY USA?
POPULATION (2011)
CANOPY GOAL
Hickory
32% (2009)
Yes
39,965
40%
Selma
34%
No
6,209
-
Smithfield
43%
No
11,194
-
Yes
31,073
40% (proposed)
Wake Forest
44% (2010)
Clayton
52%
Yes
16,472
-
Yes
751,087
50% BY 2050
Charlotte
49% (2008)
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