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.
Annual Wild-Type Seed Sale
It’s almost here! TACF’s Annual Wild-Type American Chestnut Seed Sale is happening Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 9AM.
The cost per package of 10 seeds is $50, including shipping. (One bundle per customer.)
This is an extremely popular annual sale exclusively for current TACF members. Seed quantities are limited and are for sale while supplies last. Seeds may sell out quickly.
Please note that your membership or renewal must be received by March 1 and remain current through March 17 to be eligible to participate in the seedling sale.
TACF Research Paper Featured in Science
A major new paper published this week in Science marks a turning point in how endangered species can be restored.
“For decades, conservation genetics focused on preserving what remained,” said Dr. Jared Westbrook, lead author of the study and TACF’s Director of Science. “Genomic tools now allow us to actively design restoration programs that improve with each generation. That shift changes what is possible. We can move from static preservation toward dynamic recovery.”
Download a PDF of Genomic approaches to accelerate American chestnut restoration (Westbrook et al., 2026)
did you know?
TACF is the steward of the most blight-resistant and most genetically diverse majority-American chestnut population in the world. (Meet the trees!)
This population is the foundation of our advanced RGS breeding program!
Chestnut Chat
Up Next: Chestnuts Across Maine
Join us on Friday, February 20, 2026, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat webinar.
Chestnuts Across Maine (CAM) is an exciting new initiative of the Maine Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation (ME-TACF), partnering with land trusts, state parks, schools, and town squares to establish small plantings of American chestnuts on publicly accessible lands. Their vision is that by 2035, anyone who wishes to see a live American chestnut tree can find one less than an hour’s drive from home, and see chestnut trees thriving within a 10-minute walk of every Maine school. Join Maine Chapter Vice President, Eva Butler, to learn more about this inspiring effort and how it’s taking root across the state.
Harnessing the Power of Genomics
The American Chestnut Foundation is using an advanced breeding method called recurrent genomic selection (RGS) to save the American chestnut. Learn more about this exciting technique by watching this introductory video, or take a deep dive into RGS on our breeding page.
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.
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
Genomics Offers a Faster Path to Restoring the American Chestnut
For more than a century, the American chestnut, once a dominant tree across eastern North American forests, has been devastated by an invasive fungal disease that killed billions of trees in the early 1900s. A new study published in Science shows that modern genomic tools can dramatically accelerate restoration while preserving the species’ ecological identity.
Major New TACF Paper Published in Science
A major new paper published this week in Science marks a turning point in how endangered species can be restored. The research demonstrates that approaches informed by detailed genomic information, long used in agriculture and animal breeding, can be applied at scale to conservation and restoration of wild species, accelerating progress toward restoring ecological integrity.
Black History and the American Chestnut
Black History Month provides an important opportunity to honor the past while also recognizing how Black knowledge, leadership, and community continue to shape the present. From histories rooted in land and survival to modern platforms and outdoor spaces where...
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.
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Our air pruning bed was constructed in early 2025 and has since been growing hybrid chestnuts that play an important role in our grafting work. Air pruning beds allow us to grow strong, well-branched root systems and make it easy to access high-quality rootstock for grafting. MRF staff are currently grafting using the root stock from trees that were grown in this air pruning bed, so stay tuned to learn more about it next week!
#americanchestnut #restorationinprogress #chestnutresearch #forestrestoration #meadowviewresearchfarms #conservationscience
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Our research just dropped in Science, and the media wrapped it in love.
Here’s your Science Release Wrapped: the most notable mentions, the biggest themes, and the breakout moments that made RGS the star of the week.
Thanks for all the love.
Read the research published in Science:
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adw3225
#americanchestnut #spotifywrapped #restoration #science #research #nature #environment #future #media #news #chestnuts #explorepage
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For everyone asking about available chestnut seeds and seedlingsWe're happy to be partnering with the Maine Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation to offer American Chestnut seedlings again this year!
Pre-Order Yours Today >>> viles-arboretum.square.site/american-chestnut-sale
Seedlings are available for pickup only (we do not ship):
Pickup Location: Viles Arboretum at 153 Hospital Street, Augusta, ME.
Pickup Date & Time: May 23, 2026 from 10am-4pm during our Lilac Festival
Pickup Deadline: Seedlings MUST be picked-up by May 30, 2026 at 4pm. Please contact gro.muterobraseliv@ofni to arrange for pickup after May 23rd. Seedlings not picked up by May 30th at 4:00pm will be forfeited.
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TACF is hiring 🗣️
We’re looking for a Membership Coordinator to manage membership operations, support donor engagement, and work closely with our 16 state chapters to keep our community connected and thriving. Know someone who’d be a great fit? Tag them!
Learn more about the positon: tacf.org/employment/
#hiring #conservation #restoration #nature #job #employment #hiringnow #apply #americanchestnut #chestnuts #explorepage
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Black History Month provides an important opportunity to honor the past and celebrate the Black leaders shaping our present.
Today we highlight Victor Harris, founder of Minority Landowner Magazine and keynote speaker at TACF’s 2022 Fall Symposium.
From exploring the forests of Georgia as a kid to becoming the first Black forester in the Virginia Department of Forestry, Victor has spent his life supporting Black and minority landowners. Read more about Victor and his journey: tacf.org/black-history-and-the-american-chestnut/
#americanchestnut #blackhistory #blackhistorymonth #chestnuts #farming #land #farm #nature #restoration #conservation
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Upcoming Events
The Tennessee Chapter is excited to host another annual meeting at Tennessee Tech University! Please join us to hear presentations by TACF staff, TN-TACF board members, and chestnut researchers on […]