Rescuing the

American Chestnut

Our Vision

is a robust eastern forest restored to its splendor

Our Mission

is to return the iconic American chestnut to its native range

Chestnut Chat Series

In the next Chestnut Chat on Friday, March 17, 2023 at 11:30 AM (EST), TACF invites poster contest winners and participants from the 2022 Annual Symposium to recap their work in front of a larger audience. We are excited to be joined by three young scientists from partnering academic institutions. All Chestnut Chats are LIVE via Zoom, so you can attend from anywhere! To pre-register for this event, click on How to Participate below.

Science Strategies

Breeding, Biotechnology, and Biocontrol
United for Restoration

The American Chestnut Foundation takes a holistic approach toward chestnut restoration, utilizing a three-pronged research strategy known as 3BUR (Breeding, Biotechnology, and Biocontrol United for Restoration). These research tracks are meant to be integrated through collaborations that are mutually beneficial, so we can explore all avenues to reach the common goal of saving and restoring this species as quickly as possible.

Support Our Research

Have you found a chestnut?

Learn how to identify American chestnuts and send us a sample.

Latest News

The Race to Save the American Chestnut

The Race to Save the American Chestnut

  American Chestnuts once numbered in the billions and ranged along the East coast from Maine to Mississippi. But a blight in the early 1900s pushed them back to a fraction of their historic range. Today, the American Chestnut is considered “functionally extinct”, but...

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Gene Editing Could Revive a Nearly Lost Tree

Gene Editing Could Revive a Nearly Lost Tree

In a recent article by The Washington Post, The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) in partnership with the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) continue the conversation around the transgenic breeding of the American...

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3 days ago
The American Chestnut Foundation

Today is our Spring Board meeting in Abingdon VA. Science & Technology Cte presenting before virtual and in person audience. All together a nice crowd. #abingdonva #AmericanChestnut #CastaneaDentata #TACF #ChestnutsRoastingOnAnOpenFire #Nonprofit #Forestry #Conservation #Restoration #TreeSpotting #TreeSnap #ChestnutHarvest #genomics #board ... See MoreSee Less

Today is our Spring Board meeting in Abingdon VA. Science & Technology Cte presenting before virtual and in person audience. All together a nice crowd. #abingdonva #AmericanChestnut #CastaneaDentata #TACF #ChestnutsRoastingOnAnOpenFire #Nonprofit #Forestry #Conservation #Restoration #TreeSpotting #TreeSnap #ChestnutHarvest #genomics #boardImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

An example of how the volunteer chapters work and collaborate to use their orchards and resources toward the mission of creating blight resistant chestnuts.

In 2005, we harvested our first potentially blight-resistant chestnuts. We continue this rigorous testing and trials in the forest, orchard, and research labs. The return of the American chestnut to its former native range in the Appalachian hardwood forest ecosystem is a major restoration project that requires a multi-faceted effort involving members and volunteers, scientific research, sustained funding, and most importantly, a sense of the past and a hope for the future.
... See MoreSee Less

An example of how the volunteer chapters work and collaborate to use their orchards and resources toward the mission of creating blight resistant chestnuts. 

In 2005, we harvested our first potentially blight-resistant chestnuts. We continue this rigorous testing and trials in the forest, orchard, and research labs. The return of the American chestnut to its former native range in the Appalachian hardwood forest ecosystem is a major restoration project that requires a multi-faceted effort involving members and volunteers, scientific research, sustained funding, and most importantly, a sense of the past and a hope for the future.Image attachment
4 days ago
The American Chestnut Foundation

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Comment on Facebook

Let’s get some Chestnut 🌰 trees 🌳 so we can make them come back to American 🇺🇸 soil.

The Vermont & New Hampshire chapter of TACF is now on social media. Be sure to like & follow!

Facebook: Vermont & New Hampshire Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation

Instagram: @vtnh_tacf
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The Vermont & New Hampshire chapter of TACF is now on social media. Be sure to like & follow!

Facebook: Vermont & New Hampshire Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation

Instagram: @vtnh_tacfImage attachment
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Upcoming Events

8:30AM - 4:00PM

Planting, Growing, and Breeding Basics for American Chestnut Join us on Saturday, April 1, 2023 (8:30 AM-4:00 PM) for a grower-centric meeting focused on chestnuts. We will gather in 603 […]

11:00AM - 3:00PM

The Spring Meeting of the Maryland Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation will be held at the Gaithersburg Regional Library, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave, Gaithersburg, Maryland on April 1, 2023 […]