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Wilmington City Council
Environmental Quality
Wilmington’s natural environment is one of its greatest assets —
but it’s under constant threat from short-sighted development decisions.
City Council Responsibilities
Tree Protection Ordinances
Approval of Land-Clearing
Development
Council sets the rules for what trees can be cut down — and what must be preserved. Weak regulations mean clear-cutting becomes the norm, not the exception.
Every time Council green lights a large project, they decide whether mature tree stands, wetlands, and native habitats will be preserved or bulldozed.
Stormwater and Flood Management Policies
More pavement and fewer trees mean more flooding. Council oversees policies that determine how stormwater is managed — or ignored.
Green Space and Urban
Forestry Investment
Council controls funding for urban tree planting, parkland preservation, and sustainable growth initiatives.
Enforcement of Environmental Standards
Through zoning and permitting, Council enforces — or weakens — safeguards that protect air, water, and soil quality.
​Wilmington is losing tree canopy faster than it can be replaced. Clear-cutting for development
increases flooding, worsens heat, and destroys ecosystems — all with City Council’s approval.
Once trees and wetlands are gone, they don’t grow back.​ Environmental damage is often permanent
— but it is preventable with strong leadership.