Welcome to the Maine Chapter
The goal of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) is to restore the American Chestnut tree to our eastern woodlands to benefit our environment, our wildlife, and our society. The American Chestnut Foundation is restoring a species—and in the process, creating a template for restoration of other tree and plant species.
The Mission of the Maine Chapter of TACF is to: 1) Protect, conserve, preserve, and propagate trees from all important remaining native Maine American chestnut populations in the state, 2) Restore American chestnuts to a place of ecological and economic importance and self-sustainability throughout their original forest range in Maine, and 3) Make blight-resistant American chestnuts available to the people of Maine as soon as possible.
Do you know of any wild American chestnut trees?
If you do, we are interested to find out! These trees are helpful in our genetic preservation efforts — seeds, pollen, or cuttings make be taken from individuals to preserve and spread their DNA. You can find information on identifying a native chestnut on the ME Natives page.
Please contact Chair of Gene Conservation, Dr. Thomas Klak with information regarding the whereabouts of these trees at: tklak@une.edu
In the News
- Maine Part of National Effort to Restore American Chestnut Tree – WABI TV5
- 2017 National Volunteer Week: Maine Chapter & Dixmont Community Forest
- Radio Tour of Restoration Trial in Greenville, Maine – 92.9 the Ticket
- American Chestnut Tree Restoration Project at the University of New England – Blog
- Unity College project aims to restore American chestnut tree – Portland Press Herald
- Unity College is Planting Seeds and Hoping to Restore an Endangered Tree Species – WABI TV
- Revival of forest giant: Mainers work to bring back American chestnut – Bangor Daily News Article
- In The Maine Woods, A Towering Giant Could Help Save Chestnuts – National Public Radio
- Tallest chestnut in North America discovered in Maine, Maine Public Radio broadcast
- News at 6, WMTW Channel 8, Portland, ME Tallest Chestnut Story
- University of Maine video highlighting student involvement with ME-TACF.
Stay updated!
SUBSCRIBE HERE to receive our bi-annual newsletter and learn about events and activities around Maine such as, local events and presentations, ceremonial tree plantings, seedling/seed sales, and requests for volunteers at certain times of the year to help with the restoration effort.
Have you seen a large American chestnut tree in Maine? Use the information at the identification page and send in a sample and form to assist our restoration project.
Key contacts
Al Faust, Chapter President
Thomas Klak, Vice President & Chair of Gene Conservation
Glen Rea, Breeding Coordinator-North
Eric Evans, Breeding Coordinator-South
Dr. Brian Roth, Science & Data Coordinator
Dr. Caitlin Briggs, Newsletter Editor
Contact us (e-mail: Mainetacf@gmail.com)