Campus Master Plan
The 2009 campus master plan reinforced the value of the forested areas and streams on the 345-acre Reynolda campus. The mature campus forest cover is important for maintaining healthy ecosystems and as flood control. Approximately 85 percent of plantings are native species in all new landscaping on campus. All plantings are within hardiness zone 7.
Like the 2009 master plan, the 2019 update focused on Academic Life, Student Life, and Athletics and Recreation and incorporated three additional focus areas: Sustainability and Infrastructure, Open Space and Landscape, and Mobility and Accessibility.
Campus Tree Care
Wake Forest’s urban and suburban campus forest is thoughtfully managed by a dedicated Arboriculture team. Our trees are renowned for the beauty and ecosystem services they provide to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and campus visitors.
Wake Forest’s Campus Tree Care Plan educates the campus community, contractors, and consultants about the importance of the urban and suburban campus forest and the protection and maintenance of trees to minimize negative impacts to the tree canopy. Wake Forest has been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus Higher Education for over 15 consecutive years.
Implementation of the Campus Tree Care Plan is advised by a formal standing committee sponsored by the Executive Vice President / Chief Financial Officer. This Campus Tree Advisory Committee (CTAC) advises the university on proposed modifications to campus open space and landscaping; develops and maintains a list of satisfactory and desired species of trees; encourages the use of an appropriate variety of plants materials in new plantings; and makes recommendations on landscape renovations and maintenance. Interested individuals can view a list of campus tree removals.
Mapping the Forest
Wake Forest holds Level II Arboretum Accreditation from ArbNet and the Morton Arboretum, a recognition made possible through an ongoing cross-functional collaboration between operational staff, faculty researchers, and students via campus engaged learning.
Undergraduate students contribute to canopy research by using nature identification apps to identify tree species and applying advanced LiDAR technology to complete drone scans of the campus’ canopy. Wake Forest’s interactive tree map can help quantify carbon storage and the benefits of shade on building energy use and campus conservation efforts.
By the Numbers
- 300 Million+: Laser points captured via drone LiDAR scans, creating high-resolution orthomosaics of the campus canopy
- 1,000+: Individual trees manually identified by first-year seminar students and verified by Wake Forest University’s Arborist
- 135+: Unique tree species mapped across a 90-acre central section of campus to date
Read the WFU Campus Tree Care Plan
Visit the Interactive Map of Campus Trees
Campus Recognitions
Wake Forest is a Level II Accredited Arboretum by the ArbNet Accreditation Program and the Morton Arboretum. Since 2011, Wake Forest has also been recognized as a Tree Campus Higher Education, a designation of the Arbor Day Foundation.
Stormwater Management
As a result of campus stormwater management practices developed in the 1950’s, high volumes of untreated storm water have been released into the small tributaries that flow from campus. Downstream erosion, sedimentation, and poor water quality are among the side effects of these outdated practices.
The Utilities Maintenance team expertly manages stormwater on campus through a combination of low impact development and traditional practices. The campus master plan calls for the creation of watershed-based stormwater management strategies and best management practices for campus development.
Campus Stormwater Sites
Demonstrations of low impact development and traditional stormwater management practices can be seen across campus, including at the Tohi Garden, the Winston Hall Rain Garden, and at various sites with permeable pavers, cisterns, and berms that help slow the flow of water.
Explore Campus Stormwater Learning Spaces
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