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.

TACF primary logo

The New Brand is Here!

TACF is thrilled to announce the launch of its new brand. Check out the new look, sound, and feel in our official Brand Center. Learn more about this exciting development in the Press Release.

2024 American Chestnut Symposium logo

for the

2024 American Chestnut Symposium

October 23-26, 2024

in Cromwell, CT

Open to the public on Friday and Saturday, October 25-26

Raffle item: chef's knife with American Chestnut handle

2024 Raffle

Purchase your chance to own this priceless American chestnut chef’s knife for just $25

TACF is offering not one, but two chances to win an extremely rare, Antique River Logs® handcrafted Kasumi® Damascus chef knife with an American chestnut handle! Ticket sales end October 20 and the drawing will be held at the 2024 American Chestnut Symposium October 26. (You don’t need to be present to win.) Valued at over $1200. Learn more.

Now Streaming

CLEAR DAY THUNDER: Rescuing the American Chestnut is now available for public viewing! For just $10, you will receive unlimited views and the ability to watch on multiple devices and to download.

All proceeds support the film’s production costs and The American Chestnut Foundation’s mission to return the iconic American chestnut to its native range.

Clear Day Thunder movie poster

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

How to identify an American chestnut tree

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

Support The Restoration

How to receive seeds & seedlings

Learn how to get American chestnut seeds and seedlings from TACF.

Latest News

TACF Unveils New Brand

TACF Unveils New Brand

TACF Unveils New Brand to Celebrate 40+ Years of American Chestnut RestorationAsheville, NC 9/5/2024 The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) is thrilled to announce the launch of its new brand, marking a significant milestone in its more than 40-year journey dedicated...

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Learn More About TACF’s Research Advisory Council

Learn More About TACF’s Research Advisory Council

Over the course of The American Chestnut Foundation’s 41 years, the organization has consistently sought external scientific expertise to ensure that its programming and progress are on track.To reach this goal, The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) holds two bodies...

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Find us on Facebook

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Everyone wish President Jimmy Carter a very Happy Birthday!

#restoration #conservation #americanchestnut #chestnutblight #NativePlant #President #JimmyCarter #birthday #savethetrees #rootedinrestoration
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3 CommentsComment on Facebook

Happy Birthday and Thank you President Carter for your life's work to make the world a little better. * * * * * From the Kentucky Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation. Ken Darnell

Very happy birthday Mr.President.

Join us for the 2nd annual celebration of the mighty chestnut! Chestnut roasting, tasting, many foods incorporating chestnuts, chestnut drinks, chestnut info, sapling sales, relax under mature chestnut trees. You get the picture…we’ll be getting nutty! ... See MoreSee Less

Join us for the 2nd annual celebration of the mighty chestnut! Chestnut roasting, tasting, many foods incorporating chestnuts, chestnut drinks, chestnut info, sapling sales, relax under mature chestnut trees. You get the picture…we’ll be getting nutty!

The American Chestnut Foundation's national headquarters are located in Asheville, North Carolina. All of our national employees live in the region and are being impacted by the recent flooding. We have a little access to power and Internet and will do our best to be available when we can. Thank you for your understanding. ... See MoreSee Less

The American Chestnut Foundations national headquarters are located in Asheville, North Carolina. All of our national employees live in the region and are being impacted by the recent flooding. We have a little access to power and Internet and will do our best to be available when we can. Thank you for your understanding.

30 CommentsComment on Facebook

You guys be safe out there 🙏 ❤️

Be safe. The rest of the country is wishing we could help.

Be safe and hopefully you will recover soon. I admire your mission efforts to revive majestic American Chestnuts that used to thrive in the Appalachian Mountains.

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Wildlife love chestnuts!

TACF's Website Administrator, Hal Brindley, has a tall Chinese chestnut tree in his yard in Asheville, NC and the chestnuts have been falling the last couple weeks.

He keeps a camera trap on a water dish beneath it and he captured video of 6 different mammals eating chestnuts just last week!

If you find a chestnut tree in the United States today, it is most likely a Chinese chestnut because they have a high resistance to chestnut blight. TACF is working to breed blight-resistant American chestnut trees and restore them to the eastern forests so they can once again fulfill their important ecological role for our native wildlife!
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3 CommentsComment on Facebook

That looks like a Kentucky Possom to me.

Keep up the good work!

😍😍😍😍

Did you know where chestnut blight originated? Well if not, now you do!
#americanchestnut #chestnutblight #saveourforests #restoration #conservation #nature #environment #trees #treefacts #climatecontrol #rootedinrestoration #fungus #blight
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3 CommentsComment on Facebook

Just got some land, wonder what kinda trees I’ll plant

I recognize this blight from the chestnut trees on my street in the 1960s. I was a kid & we used to have chestnut fights across multiple blocks. Out of 4 trees on the corner, only one somehow survived.

Very good post ! Great information for new people

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Upcoming Events

3:00PM - 8:00PM

Join us at the CT Forest and Park Association HQ at 16 Meriden Rd, Rockfall on Thursday, October 3rd anytime between 3 PM to 8 PM to collect all the chestnuts […]

10:00AM - 12:00PM

Hike along a trail with various identified tree species, see native American chestnut trees, and backcross breed chestnut trees, the tabletop overlook, rock quarry remains, wetlands, ledges and an old […]

9:00AM - 12:00PM

Volunteer Opportunity for people in the Stafford Springs area.  Come and help maintain the Norcross Seed Orchard and Pollinator Gardens.  Please bring gardening gloves and any gardening hand tool you […]