Local communities among the 83 recognized in North Carolina for tree preservation Keep NHC beautiful volunteers planting a tree (Source: Russell Clark) By WECT Staff | April 30, 2021 at 5:04 PM EDT - Updated April 30 at 5:04 PM RALEIGH, N.C. (WECT) - On Friday, the North Carolina Forest Service announced the 83 recipients of the 2020 Tree City USA designation and the 12 college and university campuses that earned the Tree Campus Higher Education designation to recognize the communities committed to tree preservation. The recipients of the 2020 designation include Bald head Island, Oak Island, and Southport in Brunswick County, and the City of Wilmington in New Hanover County.