Raleigh activists call for increased tree plantings amid development

Raleigh has seen thousands of its trees cut down over the years as the Triangle continues to develop.

A Wake County assessment released last year found that Raleigh lost 1,305 acres of trees in a decade.

It's prompted a group called the Oak Folk Collective to ask the city to increase its new tree plantings to 3,000 this year. However, city's goal is to plant 1,000 trees in the next three years in and around downtown.

"We’re the City of Oaks and it’s part of what makes the character of this city so special," said Katie Dixon of the Oak Folk Collective.

The Oak Folk Collective sent a letter to the Raleigh City Council, urging city leaders to take bold action to adopt a new tree conservation ordinance to protect trees during the development process.

"Living in the City of Oaks and watching our oak trees vanish has inspired me to get engaged with this issue," said Sam Pearsall of the Oak Collective.

Pearsall said he doesn't blame developers for cutting down trees if the city doesn't take steps to discourage it.

The Oak Folk Collective also want city leaders to form a tree task force.

"We just hope they make a quick decision to move forward and then we can develop the plans needed to take action and save our trees," Dixon said.

District D Raleigh City Council Jane Harrison said she plans to bring the issue of tree preservation and planting up for discussion in a council committee in June.