Contact us at gro.fcat@retpahCDM
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The American Chestnut Symposium & Fall Meeting: Restoration Now! is scheduled for November 5-7 in Greenbelt, MD. For more information click here.
Here are the links to: the Maryland Chapter’s Photo Gallery, our private Facebook page, and our Instagram page.
Our Mission
The Maryland Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation has been formed to support the efforts of the national organization to restore the American chestnut tree, to identify and preserve American chestnut survivors in Maryland, and to promote educational and scientific research efforts directed at restoring American chestnuts in Maryland.
TACF members in Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia comprise the Maryland Chapter.
Chapter Information
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How Can I Help?
The best way to learn of our activities and of the volunteer opportunities is to join our Google mail list.
To volunteer or to obtain more information concerning orchard maintenance activities or Chapter display events please contact us at moc.kooltuo@FCATDM or subscribe to our Orchard Volunteers Google Group.
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National Facebook
Did you know some plants actually benefit from fire? Recently burned areas often provide the sunlight and reduced competition that species like blueberries and American chestnuts need to flourish.
#americanchestnut #nativeplants #ForestEcology #conservation #NatureEducation
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Yes! Across the Eastern US, almost all of our most important keystone , overstory trees are fire adapted (pyrophytic 🔥). (Except in bottomlands/riparian/wetland zones, for the most part). This includes Hickories, the upland Oaks, certain pines, especially Longleaf, and Chestnuts. Many Oaks in particular are struggling with recruitment now due to fire suppression, among many other issues. This process is called mesophycation btw. Mesophytic natives like Maples 're-engineer' forests through their dense, moist leaf litter to retard-fires. Invasives make it worse. This is important because Oaks are THE top keystone plants here, hosting more species of Lepidoptera (Moths and Butterflies) than any other plant genus in the US: 500-900 species. Most of these caterpillars will become inconspicuous "little brown moths" , but they form an important massive bottom-tier of the food pyramid. After all, even though birds can source berries from a variety of plants , it takes 6-9000 caterpillars to raise a single clutch of songbirds.
I really appreciate what you are doing.
Thank you!
PICA, the Printing Industry of the Carolinas Awards, is celebrating its 60th year as the ultimate showcase of excellence in printing, and TACF has something to celebrate too.
Our partner in printing (BP Solutions Group) has entered Chestnut magazine in this competition for nearly 10 years and of those, TACF, BP, and designer Lisa Alford have received an award nearly every year, some of which included multiple awards within the same year!
Chestnut once again received a PICA Award for the 2025 competition, winning “Best of Category” for its “Sheetfed Magazine Series.” TACF is thrilled to have received this honor and to celebrate it with you!
Want to see what this award-winning magazine is all about? Become a member!
#americanchestnut #magazine #science #forestecology #explore
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Big congratulations to you Jules! 🎉🎉 This is a well-deserved honor.
We've prepared a completely legitimate and highly scientific quiz.
Take the quiz, then drop your results in the comments:
🤓 Confidently Wrong
🌱 Chestnut Curious
🌰 Chestnut Expert
#AmericanChestnut #TreeID #ForestEducation #ChestnutTrees #NativeTrees
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Just a few years apart: the same wild American chestnut tree before and after chestnut blight took its toll.
Enter our 2026 Photo Contest from now until the end of December!
#americanchestnut #chestnutblight #ForestEcology #NativeSpecies #ForestConservation
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Latest News
Beltsville orchard appeal
The Maryland Chapter is trying to save our Beltsville orchard. The USDA has announced its desire to shut down or repurpose the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), putting TACF’s important chestnut orchard at risk. One of the major challenges to American...
Maryland Chapter Spring Meeting
MDTACF Spring Meeting Our Maryland Chapter Annual Membership meeting will be Saturday, April 25 at Milkhouse Brewery 8253 Dollyhyde Road Mt. Airy, MD 21171, 12 - 3 pm, rain or shine. The event will take place at Milkhouse Brewery, where we will host guest speakers,...