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!
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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Grafting is one of the tools we use to conserve large, surviving American chestnut germplasm and ensure it isn’t lost. By grafting scion from important trees onto compatible rootstock, we can preserve valuable genetics and share this germplasm across regions. This work allows exceptional trees to live on in multiple locations, supporting research, restoration, and collaboration while safeguarding the diversity of the American chestnut for the future.
#AmericanChestnut #RestorationInProgress #ChestnutResearch #ForestRestoration #MeadowviewResearchFarms #ConservationScience
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Our Director of Science, Jared Westbrook, was interviewed by Ira Flatow, founder and host of Science Friday, for their podcast. The episode is now available: www.sciencefriday.com/segments/restoring-american-chestnut-tree/
On Science Friday, Jared discusses the multiple approaches taken to improve blight resistance in American chestnut trees, TACF’s recurrent genomic selection program as our main engine for restoration, and what successful restoration looks like.
#americanchestnut #sciencefriday #science #restoration #explorepage #conservation
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About 2017 I put in 5 Dunstan chestnuts. Last summer, I had viable fruit on 2 of them, so in October I put 49 Dunstan chestnuts into moist peatmoss in Tupperware and put them in the fridge. All 49 germinated. I transplanted them into pts with soil 10 days ago, and this morning I have the first appearance of chlorophyll appearing in the shoots that are coming up. The local ShopRite had Italian chestnuts at Christmas. I put 2 lbs of them into the fridge and managed to get 9 to germinate. I will be replanting the Poconos this spring, beginning on our property.
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 connection and representation matter.
Today we’re highlighting Hattie Carthan, who fought against the impacts of redlining and disinvestment by mobilizing her Bed‑Stuy community to restore its trees and protect a landmark magnolia. Her legacy shows that restoration starts with us, an idea at the heart of our work to revive the American chestnut.
Read more about Hattie Carthan: tacf.org/black-history-and-the-american-chestnut/
#blackhistorymonth #americanchestnut #treestagram #explorepage #nature
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So trees DO grow in Brooklyn again?!
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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Upcoming Events
This training provides an overview of TACF's Dentatabase, where we track orchards and trees across the range. This training is designed for chapter leaders, volunteers, and partner organizations who want […]
This is an open, drop-in support session for anyone using Dentatabase. Participants are welcome to bring specific questions about their orchards, data entry, record updates, or workflows discussed in recent […]