Walk through Wilmington on a July afternoon and you’ll notice the difference a tree makes. A shaded street can feel noticeably cooler than a bare one. The Alliance for Cape Fear Trees (ACFT) has spent more than a decade making sure more of the Lower Cape Fear region gets that shade.
Most recently at the Town of Leland’s Lend a Hand program the Alliance along with community volunteers helped plant 30 trees.
I was pleased to have a conversation with Isabelle Shepherd the Executive Director about their work and its importance to the region as a whole.
A simple mission, three verbs
ACFT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Wilmington, and its mission fits on a single line: preserve, protect, and plant trees.
Since 2015, the Alliance has worked to improve community health and quality of life through urban forestry, with a focus on climate resilience, environmental justice, and public education.
Trees do a lot of quiet work. They help the region cope with urban heat islands, poor air quality, and stormwater runoff. ACFT builds that work around partnerships with community groups, local government, and corporate supporters.
Planting and giving away trees
Much of ACFT’s most visible work happens on the ground. Its free tree giveaways put native species into residents’ hands, and its community plantings put trees on streets and schoolyards that need them.
Several giveaways give early access to neighborhoods that have historically had less tree canopy. That follows from ACFT’s environmental justice focus, since the benefits of trees are not evenly spread across a city.
Planting is only the first step
A sapling in the ground doesn’t guarantee a tree in twenty years. ACFT’s Tree Stewards are volunteers trained to care for young trees across the city. The training is backed by its Preservation Partner, Bartlett Tree Experts, whose arborists work directly with the volunteers. ACFT’s Tree Keepers program supports that care, and its Tree Care resources help residents look after the trees they take home.
Advocacy: protecting the trees already standing
The Alliance also works to keep Wilmington’s existing canopy from disappearing. Its policy guide, Code & Canopy, offers practical recommendations for tree preservation across southeastern North Carolina. It’s designed for local governments, planning departments, developers, and community advocates alike. Its themes include strengthening protections, setting higher standards, and rethinking essential services. Related campaigns such as Keep Trees Standing, Design with Nature, and Canopy for Clean Water carry those ideas into specific local debates.
How you can help
You can help in several ways:
Volunteer at a planting or giveaway.
Become a Tree Steward and learn to care for young trees.
Attend Evergreen Evening on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Seabird, presented by Audi Cape Fear.
Donate, become a member, or sponsor the work.
Subscribe to The Root Report, the Alliance’s newsletter, for updates on plantings, projects, and advocacy.
Pick up a free tree at an upcoming giveaway and plant it.
Visit acftrees.org to learn more and get involved.