About Us
Donate
Donate here to assist with the SUNY ESF Biotechnology Program. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. You can also donate directly on ESF’s webpage.
If you would like to donate by mail, please send your check made out to NY-TACF to:
NY-TACF C/O Treasurer Fran Nichols
302 Bateman Road
Laurens, NY 13796
The Bur Newsletter
In the latest issue of The Bur Fall 2023
• Patience and Fortitude Needed (Again)
• District Director Reports: What’s happening in New York State
• Bill Powell’s Retirement
• NY-TACF’s Annual Meeting
• ESF research updates
Darling 58 American Chestnut Public Comment Period has Ended
Thank you to everyone who showed their support for the Darling 58 blight-tolerant American chestnut tree by submitting a comment to the USDA!
More information can be found on SUNY ESF’s American Chestnut Project.
Erik Carlson’s Interview on the Talking Biotech Podcast
Erik Carlson, an ESF graduate student, discussed the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project on Talking Biotech Podcast. In November 2021, Erik published a paper in Molecular Plant Pathology on the new lines of transgenic American chestnuts developed with the win3.12 inducible promoter from poplar (Populus deltoides), which drives OxO expression. The oxalate oxidase gene from wheat confers elevated chestnut blight resistance in American chestnut. The podcast discusses the background of the project, where the project stands, and the regulatory environment of repatriating a forest with engineered trees.
Pollination Workshop
ESF’s American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project discussed their outcrossing plan, as well as how to pre-bag American chestnut female flowers, how they collect transgenic Darling 58 pollen, what to do when pollen is received, how to perform controlled pollinations, and how to protect nuts from animals during a virtual pollination workshop.
The workshop, beginning with a 20 minute video, can be view through TACF’s Chestnut Chat Series event listing.
The Village Chestnut Tree Podcast
All across North America and Europe, trees are under mortal threat. In The Village Chestnut Tree podcast, Emmett Hoops discusses American chestnuts and what’s being done to save them.
Latest Episode: Years End Ideas
The Chestnut Tree Video
Produced by the Templeton Foundation, one of our donors.
American Chestnut Seed Engraving
Sergey Jivetin creates elaborate engravings on the shells of seeds, including a series carved on American chestnut seeds depicting TACF’s American chestnut restoration efforts. On the first image below, the lower right-hand nut illustrates the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project’s insertion of the Oxalate Oxidase gene into the American chestnut genome. The second image is a larger representation of that nut. To see more of Sergey Jivetin’s work, check out his website, Furrow Seed Engraving Project.
New York Chapter Menu
National Facebook
Join us on TODAY, April 19, 2024, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EDT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat, where we'll talk all about growing chestnuts!
In this episode, we will cover all the basics of planting, growing, and maintaining American chestnut trees. TACF staff and expert volunteers will talk about how to plant chestnuts from seed and from seedlings, including bareroot and containerized seedlings, as well as considerations for planting in the spring versus the fall. Bring your questions and don’t miss this Chestnut Chat that is sure to become an instant classic.
Visit the link to save your spot! tacf.org/event/chestnut-chat-growing-chestnuts/
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You can make a difference for people, for an ecosystem, and for a tree.
Join the movement to save the American chestnut by becoming a member of The American Chestnut Foundation today.
support.tacf.org/membership
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One year ago volunteers gathered at Pryor Orchard in Edneyville, NC and planted chestnuts seeds gathered on the Appalachian Trail by NC/SC Chapter member Jon Taylor, who also led a planting demonstration at the start of the event.
To see find out about volunteer and planting events in your neck of the woods, visit our events calendar at tacf.org/events/category/tacf/
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HAPPENING IN TWO DAYS!
The VA Department of Forestry and VATACF will be planting 300 bareroot seedlings at Lesesne State Forest on Monday, April 15th. Planting will begin at 10:00AM and last until we are finished (likely 4-6 hours depending on how many folks come out). Please come out and help us plant these trees in our effort to restore the American chestnut!
Please note that the terrain we are planting on has a lot of brush and debris, it is not easy to get around. If you have movement issues I recommend selecting another of our volunteer events. Bring water, lunch/snacks, bug spray or sunscreen if needed, and gardening gloves. We will have all the equipment required for planting.
Please visit the link for more information. tacf.org/event/planting-at-lesesne-state-forest/
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Guess no accountants will participate
TACF'S documentary CLEAR DAY THUNDER: Rescuing the American Chestnut has received another award, and isn't it cool looking?
TACF was honored to learn that the film was recently selected as the winner in the Best Environmental Film category at the Lookout Wild Film Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The Lookout Wild Film Festival has been bringing together outdoor adventure and conservation films from around the world for more than ten years. This annual event took place January 11-14, 2024 and showcased more than 60 films.
If you'd like to schedule your own showing of Clear Day Thunder, visit www.rescuingtheamericanchestnut.com/
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Shouldn’t TACF be concentrating on restoring the American chestnut not on making a movie. Is that really the best use of funds?
Latest News
ESF scientist who brought American chestnut tree back from the brink of extinction has died
Dr. William “Bill” Powell, 67, died Sunday, Nov. 12 [2023], at his home with his family by his side. Powell was a biology professor at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, where he and his colleague, Charles Maynard, founded...
American chestnut tree poised for a comeback in New York
The American chestnut tree once dominated the eastern part of the United States. After becoming functionally extinct starting over a century ago due to the spread of a fungus, the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry is close to...
A CNY scientist’s work could change the world. But he might not live long enough to see it happen
We’ve all had eureka moments, those flashes of insight that, for most of us anyway, add up to little more than remembering where we left our car keys. But William Powell isn’t like most people. His eureka moment might change the world. Up until last year, Powell was a...