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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Find us on Facebook

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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_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
2 days ago
The American Chestnut Foundation

Happy first day of Spring! 🌱 ... See MoreSee Less

Happy first day of Spring! 🌱Image attachment

Comment on Facebook

I have 83 acres in East TN, don't know if I have any Chestnut trees... I'll have to check this spring

I just found out our local school in northeast Bradford Pennsylvania . is planting chestnut trees around the school .the students have planned it all out

Friendly reminder that our Chestnut Chat is
LIVE today at 11:30 AM (EST).

We hope you can join!

Don't forget you have to be preregistered to join!https://psu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_c6Gab9NhQrS4wJZTjvTcPg
... See MoreSee Less

Friendly reminder that our Chestnut Chat is
LIVE today at 11:30 AM (EST).

We hope you can join!

Dont forget you have to be preregistered to join!https://psu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_c6Gab9NhQrS4wJZTjvTcPg
5 days ago
The American Chestnut Foundation

Here’s a little chestnut green today from The American Chestnut Foundation's Meadowview Research Farms in Virginia where we preserve, study, and breed American chestnut trees for resistance to the blight fungus. Pictured in these also: Ciera Wilbur, Nursery Manager; Cassie Stark, Laboratory Manager and Dr. Vasiliy Lakoba, Director of Research.

At Meadowview thousands of American chestnuts are at various stages of the breeding process, planted on more than 150 acres.

Photos; March 16, 2023
... See MoreSee Less

Here’s a little chestnut green today from The American Chestnut Foundations Meadowview Research Farms in Virginia where we preserve, study, and breed American chestnut trees for resistance to the blight fungus. Pictured in these also: Ciera Wilbur, Nursery Manager; Cassie Stark, Laboratory Manager and Dr. Vasiliy Lakoba, Director of Research. 

At Meadowview thousands  of American chestnuts are at various stages of the breeding process, planted on more than 150 acres.

Photos; March 16, 2023Image attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment

Comment on Facebook

Where do these trees end up?

Can those trees be bought?

Can I buy few American chestnut seedlings or seeds from you ?

Is there some place I can get them in TN?.... we have 83 acres of land and would love to plant some

When can we the public get to get some so we can plant them around our areas. To help the Chestnut 🌰 trees make a comeback..?

Colleen Amangerov . Look how cool

WOW...

View more comments

1 week ago
The American Chestnut Foundation

**PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED for the March 17th Chestnut Chat with link below.
psu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_c6Gab9NhQrS4wJZTjvTcPg
After registering you will receive a unique URL link to use to join the event on the day of the chat. You can also add the event to your calendar from the webinar registration approval page. The meeting will open 15 minutes prior to the start time to allow an audio and video test.

Join us Friday, March 17th at 11:30 (EST) for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat!
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. We'll hear from:

Trish Nguyen of UT-Chattanooga
Poster Title: A small stem assay using hypovirulent Cryphonectria parasitica to screen Castanea dentata backcross F2 families may set the stage for long-term survival.

Kaitlyn Harden of UT-Chattanooga
Poster Title: Oxalic acid leaf disk assays may be another method of screening phenotypic variability in “American” looking Castanea hybrid trees.

Morgan Dupree Wingo of Berry College
Poster Title: Validation of an alternative small stem assay for blight resistance in backcross hybrid chestnuts (Castanea spp.) and recommendations for its expanded use.

acf.org/event/chestnut-chat-2022-fall-symposium-student-poster-session-participants-2/

CT-TACF Chapter MA/RI Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation PA / NJ Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation The Georgia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project West Virginia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation The American Chestnut Foundation's Meadowview Research Farms Virginia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation American Chestnut Maryland Chapter
... See MoreSee Less

**PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED for the March 17th Chestnut Chat with link below.
https://psu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_c6Gab9NhQrS4wJZTjvTcPg
After registering you will receive a unique URL link to use to join the event on the day of the chat. You can also add the event to your calendar from the webinar registration approval page. The meeting will open 15 minutes prior to the start time to allow an audio and video test.

Join us Friday, March 17th at 11:30 (EST) for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat!
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. Well hear from:

Trish Nguyen of UT-Chattanooga
Poster Title: A small stem assay using hypovirulent Cryphonectria parasitica to screen Castanea dentata backcross F2 families may set the stage for long-term survival.

Kaitlyn Harden of UT-Chattanooga
Poster Title: Oxalic acid leaf disk assays may be another method of screening phenotypic variability in “American” looking Castanea hybrid trees.

Morgan Dupree Wingo of Berry College
Poster Title: Validation of an alternative small stem assay for blight resistance in backcross hybrid chestnuts (Castanea spp.) and recommendations for its expanded use.

https://acf.org/event/chestnut-chat-2022-fall-symposium-student-poster-session-participants-2/

CT-TACF Chapter MA/RI Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation PA / NJ Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation The Georgia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project West Virginia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation The American Chestnut Foundations Meadowview Research Farms Virginia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation American Chestnut Maryland ChapterImage attachmentImage attachment

Comment on Facebook

Please correct Morgan's name to Morgan Dupree Wingo on this post and the web link.

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Upcoming Events

- Mar 25
12:00AM - 11:59PM
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 […]