Six Workers Will Help Implement ARRA Funded Forest Sustainability Project
The Rhode Island Tree Council recently added six Rhode Islanders to a team of green industry workers that will assist the organization in implementing its Forest Sustainability Project (FSP), a special program being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The six Rhode Islanders named to the Green Team are Craig Hotchkiss of Ashaway, Christopher Loens of Cranston, Frank Mastrobuono of Saunderstown, Katherine Sayles of Wakefield, Pauline Smith of Providence, and Robert Swanson of Carolina. All six will report directly to John Campanini, the RITree Council’s technical director, who is supervising the Forest Sustainability Project.
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Green Team members will help the RITree Council implement street tree, exotic pest, and storm damage surveys. Team members will also help consultants crafting management plans and planting and caring for trees. Each Green Team member has either a Bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences or a related field, or has extensive experience in urban and community forestry. All six team members will undergo a comprehensive training program conducted by the RITree Council. The training is based on Forest Service and the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) survey, planting, and care standards.
The Forest Sustainability Project is designed to let the RITree Council assess and improve the state’s forest health, provide urban forestry training, and promote, maintain, and increase green employment in economically distressed regions. The FSP calls for the Green Team to implement a variety of activities, such as conducting community-based tree surveys and assessing storm damage, and to use local vendors where professional assistance is required to implement activities.
The FSP also calls for the RITree Council to provide $10,000 to $20,000 worth of services and supplies to seven Rhode Island cities—Warwick, Woonsocket, Cranston, Johnston, North Providence, Central Falls, and Warren.
The Rhode Island Tree Council is a non-profit, tax-exempt group dedicated to improving the state’s tree resources. Composed of members, professional consultants, and volunteers, the Council administers its programs through its Board of Directors, Advisors, and Trustees. RITree’s mission is to create healthy urban and community forests, which underpin the state’s verdant ecological tapestry, support its vibrant economy, and enrich the lives of residents. Membership is open to all.
For more information on the RITree Council’s Forest Sustainability Project or its Green Team, contact Jeanne Current, Rhode Island Tree Council, P.O. Box 6144, Providence, RI 02940. Tel: 401-484-2555. Fax: 401-764-5886. E-mail: arraproject@ritree.org
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Contact Information:
Jeanne Current
RITree Council / ARRA Project
PO Box 6144
Providence, RI 02940
phone 401.484.2555
fax 401.764.5886
e-mail ARRAProject@ritree.org
