Rescuing the
American Chestnut
Our mission is to return the iconic American chestnut to its native range.
Our vision is a robust eastern forest returned to its splendor.
QUIZ: What does RGS stand for?
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Learn more about the exciting new RGS breeding program at TACF!
You can make a difference in this uplifting work!
TACF is harnessing the power of genomics. This spring, your support is driving a breakthrough: recurrent genomic selection. By combining DNA tools with decades of traditional breeding, we’re speeding up the development of blight-resistant trees with strong American traits—and scaling up faster than ever.
Please support the Spring Appeal
did you know?
TACF is the steward of the most blight-resistant and most genetically diverse majority-American chestnut population in the world.
This population is the foundation of our advanced RGS breeding program!
Inspiring!
CLEAR DAY THUNDER: Rescuing the American Chestnut is now available! For just $10, you will receive unlimited views and the ability to download and watch on multiple devices.
All proceeds support The American Chestnut Foundation’s mission to return the iconic American chestnut to its native range.
Science Strategies
Breeding, Biotechnology, and Biodiversity
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 Biodiversity, United for Restoration). These research tracks are implemented through mutually beneficial collaborations, so we can explore all avenues to reach the common goal of saving and restoring this species as quickly as possible.
Support Our Research
Found a tree?
Learn how to identify American chestnuts and send us a sample for identification.
Support The Restoration
Want a tree?
Learn how to get American chestnut seeds from TACF.
Latest News
Rolling Out a Unified Look: TACF Chapter Logos Now Live Across All State Chapters
The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) is excited to announce the official rollout of newly designed logos for all state chapters. This initiative is part of a larger strategy to create a cohesive and professional visual identity across the entire organization,...
Changes to TACF’s NY Chapter
The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) works proudly alongside its 16 state chapters throughout the eastern US to fulfill our collective mission to return the American chestnut to its native range. Each chapter is crucial to this work, and their diverse contributions...
2025 Photo Contest
Capture the Beauty of the American Chestnut and Reap the Rewards! Now Through December 31, 2025 Grab your camera and hit the trails—the American Chestnut Photo Contest is back! We’re looking for striking, creative, and unique images of American chestnut trees and...
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What an incredible tree the American chestnut was! As The American Chestnut Foundations continues its decades-long work to restore this species, we welcome you to join the cause!
Become a member, volunteer with your local chapter, or simply spread the word about this incredible tree. Visit support.tacf.org/membership to get started.
12 CommentsComment on Facebook
They can bring back a dead wolf from hundreds of years ago but they won’t bring back something useful like the American chestnut
Thank NYC, destroyed not only the tree, but a way of life 😢
If it's extinct it not possible to bring back
Join us on Friday, May 16, 2025, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat.
Special guests Duane McKenna and Michael Charles will discuss beetle evolution and the rediscovery of a lost species, the greater chestnut weevil.
Visit tacf.org/event/chestnut-chat-beetle-evolution-greater-chestnut-weevil/ to learn more and register.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Huge thanks to our amazing Bonner Scholars, Maddy, our dedicated Farm Assistant, and Gabbie, our creative Social Media Intern for all their hard work this semester! We’re so grateful for their contributions and can’t wait to welcome them back in August for another season of collaboration.
#americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #meadowviewresearchfarms #emoryhenry #bonnerscholars
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Join us on Friday, May 16, 2025, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat.
Special guests Duane McKenna and Michael Charles will discuss beetle evolution and the rediscovery of a lost species, the greater chestnut weevil.
Visit tacf.org/event/chestnut-chat-beetle-evolution-greater-chestnut-weevil/ to learn more and register.
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Why don't they make a weevil that can't have babies? And put them in the wild? So it'll past it to overs so they'll die out!!!
Upcoming Events
Event will take place Friday and Saturday from 9am-3pm. Testing our orchard trees for blight resistance requires inoculating them with the blight. We do this by boring a hole in […]
Event will take place Friday and Saturday from 9am-3pm. Testing our orchard trees for blight resistance requires inoculating them with the blight. We do this by boring a hole in […]
This event will take place on Monday and Tuesday from 9 am to 3 pm Here is a Google map link to the chestnut orchard location. Testing our orchard trees […]