University of Connecticut
OP-T2-2: Local Offsets Program

UConn maintains several tracts of preserved forest in various stages of maturity, to the tune of 2663 acres total, in 3 locations. These forests are open to the public, and have series of maintained trails for hiking and recreational access. With the development of the approved Tech Park (http://innovation.uconn.edu/UConn_Technology_Park/) there will be an additional 102 acres added to the North Campus Conservation Easement and the land will be used for educational purposes and forestry purposes overseen by Thomas Worthley from the Department of Extension. The University also reclaimed former landfill territory, and now maintains 33 acres of wetlands and 31 acres of uplands on the reclaimed territory with public trail access. Both of these processes add value to the community, provide carbon offsets, and sustain biodiversity and flood protection in the community. http://ecohusky.uconn.edu/outreach/heep.html The Extension Forestry Program of the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System provides education for natural resource professionals, elected and appointed officials, volunteers and private woodland owners who care for this valued resource and landscape. Extension educators—in cooperation with many organizational partners—seek to improve the health, care, diversity, and management of Connecticut’s trees and forests. Educational efforts reflect the wide diversity of the state’s forested landscape and ownership - from small-scale private woodlands, land trusts and woodland cooperatives to state forests; from street trees, town greens and parks to municipal watersheds. http://www.canr.uconn.edu/CES/FOREST/ Additionally, the University has begun composting a significant portion of its agricultural waste and is investigating dining hall composting in four of its dining halls. http://ecohusky.uconn.edu/compost/agfacility.html