June 2018 completed the fifth year of this program at Westerly Middle School. It has been so successful that former Westerly Superintendent of Schools Roy Seitsinger invited RTT to start the program at his new district. Some other local participants are The Superior Nut Company, Connecticut College, Home Depot, Mohegan Sun Casino, Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative. Presently, RTT balances "the CO2 emissions of over 96 participants with more than 500 acres of carbon-offset forests on 13 sites in Costa Rica." The forests are managed in the name of RTT's participants; they "use a mixed-species forestry model in order to promote biodiversity, create habitat, and reduce risks associated with tree loss from pests and diseases." The forests are periodically thinned "to avoid stagnation and ensure that the forest plantations remain productive. The logs that are felled in these necessary thinnings are provided to our local partners for sale on the market. Local partners are able to earn an income from their forested land, which slightly exceeds the profit potential of cattle farming on the same land."
RTT is a 501(c)(3) non profit based in Connecticut. Dr Herster Barres, Director of Research and founder, and Greg Powell, Executive Director, attended dinner meeting to present the update on the school project and forest.
This program was made possible through Grants received from Rotary District 7950 the past five years. It began with a program for the fifth graders and each year it moved up to the next grade. Please come Monday and hear more about this important program. We are very pleased to have the support of WMS Principal Paula Fusco who attended dinner Monday evening along with Superintendent of Schools Mark Garceau and new WHS Principal Michael Hogan.
Teacher Ms. Derrix at the WMS Forest in Costa Rica
Pres-Elect Rona presenting book to Director Greg 
WMS Principal Paula Fusco & WHS Principal Michael Hobin
