Rescuing the
American Chestnut
Our Mission
is to return the iconic American chestnut to its native range.
Our Vision
is a robust eastern forest restored to its splendor.
Make a difference this holiday season
Your support allows TACF to continue working from the ground up toward restoration of the American chestnut. Please help us reach our goal.
Chestnut Chat Series
Darling 58, Transgenics, and Science Strategy Updates
Join us December 15 from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat. TACF will share the latest updates about the status of the Darling transgenic American chestnut tree and new information since our last D58 Chestnut Chat in September. Panelists will present data, analyses, and frequently asked questions, then give participants an opportunity to ask their own questions.
Join the celebration!
The American Chestnut Foundation is celebrating its 40th anniversary! We invite you to join us at one of the many chapter festivities this year. Non-members are welcome to attend.
Science Strategies
Breeding, Biotechnology, and Biocontrol
United for Restoration
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How to identify an American chestnut tree
Learn how to identify American chestnuts and send us a sample for identification.
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How to receive American chestnut seeds & seedlings
Learn how to get American chestnut seeds and seedlings from TACF.
Latest News
Press Release: TACF Discontinues Development of Darling 58
TACF Discontinues Development of Darling 58Asheville, NC, December 8, 2023 The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) announced today that it will discontinue its development of the Darling 58 American chestnut due to significant performance limitations that, from TACF’s...
Scion wood collection for southern American chestnut conservation
You can help conserve the American chestnut by collecting scion wood The American Chestnut Foundation is seeking scion wood from wild American chestnut trees from the southern population. (Scion wood is the name for the twigs used in grafting and propagating woody...
WV Chapter President Mark Double Retires
By WV Board Member Lewis CookOver a brisk weekend in early October, during the Annual West Virginia Chestnut Festival in Rowlesburg Mark Double, WV-TACF Chapter President, retired from his duties. Chapter Board member Lewis A. Cook shared these kind words about his...
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Join us December 15 from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for TACF’s next LIVE Chestnut Chat. TACF will share the latest updates about the status of the Darling transgenic American chestnut tree and new information since our last D58 Chestnut Chat in September. Panelists will present data, analyses, and frequently asked questions, then give participants an opportunity to ask their own questions. Visit the link in the comments below to learn more and sign up.
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
For those wondering, SUNY-ESF continues this work and is still refining it. To publicly pull their funding like this is disgusting. The level of unprofessional behavior in today’s release is appalling! I’m moving my financial support to ESF.
I was just reading the the Darling 58 research will be discontinued.
The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) announced today that it will discontinue its development of the Darling 58 American chestnut due to significant performance limitations that, from TACF’s perspective, make it unsuitable as a restoration tree. Likewise, TACF is also withdrawing its support for several pending regulatory petitions that would authorize distribution of transgenic Darling trees outside permitted research plots.
To read the entire press release, visit the link in the comments. We'll be discussing this topic at length during the December 15 Chestnut Chat.
20 CommentsComment on Facebook
For much more information about D58 and many frequently asked questions, please visit tacf.org/darling-58/
Wow, big news
Wow, this is so disappointing and must be a profoundly sad event for the long-time researchers. Let's hope one of the new, improved varieties can be brought forward for regulatory approval within my lifetime.
I am so sorry to hear this news. I am very curious for more info on the pollination. I look forward to the December chat Sending love to all
For those wondering, SUNY-ESF continues this work and is still refining it. To publicly pull their funding like this is disgusting. The level of unprofessional behavior in this release is appalling! I’m moving my financial support to ESF’s work.
Disappointing news. The Darling 58 route is very likely still the best avenue for successful restoration of Castanea dentata.
I know of a large mature chestnut tree in Louisiana. Anyone interested in looking into it? I have a dozen or so nuts from it
Best news I’ve heard in a long time from ACF. I saved the email to my favorites. I’ve been saying this all along. Transgenics might be the answer but it was way way way too fast
This is really sad news.
That's disappointing but the TACF should be commended for its openness and commitment to producing quality blight resistant trees. Im sure the dedicated folks at TACF and SUNY will continue to pursue the goal of wild chestnut restoration both through transgenics and hybridization. Maybe the Darling 58 could be improved with a few generations of selected breeding while simultaneously developing new transgenic lines? I'll leave it to the experts and hope for the best.
**EDIT TO ADD: SUNY announced they will continue to persue the Darling efforts without TACF. I know where my support will be going.** Will SUNY persue? The Darling 58 is 100% better than 100 years of failed hybridization.
So now what? What plan C for Chestnut 🌰 trees 🌳
Well that’s awful news.
Disappointing!
Why can’t we just plant the Chinese chestnut? They are bigger husks n nuts 🌰 than American chestnuts. Why not introduce the Italian chestnut with an American 58..?
Shameful, utterly shameful
What the hell? All of that for nothing? What a waste. I guess I’m going over to the SUNY side to see some actual work getting done.
We're hiring! TACF is seeking a Gifts and Records Specialist in our Asheville, NC office. We're accepting applications until December 15, visit the link in the comments to learn more about this position.
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
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The American Chestnut Foundation is seeking scion wood from wild American chestnut trees from the southern population. Scion wood MUST come from previously verified American chestnuts. Population studies have determined that trees found in western TN and K1, GA, AL, and MS represent the southern population and are the most genetically diverse.
The objectives of this collection are to:
🌱Conserve genetic diversity of unique and underrepresented populations of American chestnut through grafting
🌱Grow these grafted plants in favorable conditions (including growth chambers) to promote flowering and ease of pollen collection
🌱Future utilization of pollen and flowers to outcross transgenic chestnut
Goals for 2024: Gather around 100 sources from the South
•Coordinate with Jamie Van Clief at jamie.vanclief@acf.org for the collection of this scion wood.
For more details- head to the link in the comments below.
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
I have three mature chestnut trees on a property I just acquired. How does one go about getting it verified as a true American Chestnut tree. I am one hour West of Nashville TN if that qualifies.
so from Michigan no good?
Check out the Maine Chapter of TACF's booth at the Fryeburg Fair
This eagerly anticipated annual event, held each fall in the picturesque town of Fryeburg, Maine, attracts a staggering 170,000 attendees. Each year the Maine Chapter has a booth set up for people to learn about American chestnut.
This year, each person who signed up to become a new TACF member received two chestnut seedlings as part of the "Fryeburg Fair Special," and because of this, they welcomed 90 new members. This brings the total number of Chapter members to over 300 for the for the first time!
In addition to cultivating new members, their team gathered valuable insights and recorded about a dozen solid leads on the location of surviving American chestnuts in Maine.
As always, this was a successful time at the fair!
📍Maine locals- make sure to mark your calendars to attend next year!
Curious about a TACF membership? Head to the link in bio to learn more.
1 CommentComment on Facebook
More about the ME Chapter- tacf.org/me/about-us/
Upcoming Events
Join us December 15 from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for TACF’s next LIVE Chestnut Chat. TACF will share the latest updates about the status of the Darling transgenic American chestnut […]
Chestnuts Roastingin Damascus, VA Join The American Chestnut Foundation as we get into the holiday spirit, December 16 at 6:00 PM in the Damascus Trail Center. All are invited to […]