Connecticut news

Agenda for the 2024 Annual Meeting

This is the agenda for the upcoming 2024 CT Chapter Annual Meeting, held on Sunday, March 24th, 2024

 

10:00 am – Annual Meeting

Minutes of prior annual meeting

Treasurer’s Report

President’s Report

Committee Reports:

      Outreach and Education Committee

      Research Committee

      Communications Committee

      Germplasm Committee

Nomination and Election of Directors and Officers

Old Business — Insurance

New Business – Volunteer waivers and releases

            TACF Fall Meetings at Cromwell Marriott, October 24th-27th

Approximately 11:00 am –Braiding Traditional and Modern Science Toward American Chestnut Restoration” – SaraFitzsimmons, Chief Conservation Officer at TACF.

12:00 pm – Lunch

12:30 pm — Board of Directors Meeting (Open to all)

Minutes of prior board meeting

Report and approval of Budget

Report and discussion of Orchard Management

Breeding Orchards – Awaiting Genotyping results for Great Mt. Forest and Salem.

            Awaiting Blight1 or 2 ratings for Litchfield.

Inoculation at Middletown

            Seed Orchards – Plant seeds from Woodbridge orchard crossed with Phytophthera

                                resistant pollen.

           Grading first round of inoculations.  Thinning of nonselected plots.

Germplasm Conservation Orchards – New Orchard with Ridgefield C.C. at McKeon

                     Farm and private landowners in Harwinton and Killingworth.

           Continue plantings at Wilton, Woodbridge, Denison and a few replacement

                     plantings at Essex, Haddam Neck, Manchester, and Wallingford.

Talks with Heritage L.T. in Torrington for new orchard in 2025.

      Possible pollination of CAES Blight1 or 2 rated trees; Phytophthera resistant trees.

Report by the Outreach and Education Committee (Florian)

  • Earth Day at Woodbury, April 20th
  • White Memorial Foundation Presentation April 20th
  • Berlin LT Presentation, May 1st
  • Science Plant Day at CAES Hamden, August 7th
  • Durham Fair, September 26th -29th
  • Documentary screenings.

Report by the Research Committee (Florian and Jack S.)

      Ongoing Chestnut Bee Surveys

Report by the Communications Committee (Florian)

Report by the Germplasm Committee (Jack M. and Jack S.)

Old Business- Insurance purchase made during special meeting.

New Business- Chapter Planning Template (Kendra and Catherine).

                        Bylaws Committee

Connecticut news Chapter Menu

National Facebook

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

This excellent article takes a deep dive into the history of the American chestnut, the science driving restoration efforts, and the communities helping make recovery possible. Be sure to read the perspectives shared by TACF Director of Science Jared Westbrook, Board Member Jim Searing, and PA/NJ Chapter member Mike Aucott. 🌳🌰

Read the article: rivertownsmagazine.com/stories/the-return-of-the-american-chestnut-tree,146154

#americanchestnut #forestry #forestrestoration #citizenscience #conservation
... See MoreSee Less

This excellent article takes a deep dive into the history of the American chestnut, the science driving restoration efforts, and the communities helping make recovery possible. Be sure to read the perspectives shared by TACF Director of Science Jared Westbrook, Board Member Jim Searing, and PA/NJ Chapter member Mike Aucott. 🌳🌰Read the article: https://rivertownsmagazine.com/stories/the-return-of-the-american-chestnut-tree,146154  #AmericanChestnut #Forestry #ForestRestoration #CitizenScience #Conservation

21 CommentsComment on Facebook

I've heard that there is a group of mature American Chestnut trees near Warm Springs Georgia. Does anyone know if these trees are naturally resistant or maybe have been somehow able to avoid exposure?

Gene editing is a natural process?

I'd love to have pure American Chestnuts growing but at my age it will never be even though through interbreeding and genetics we are just about there. I did the next best thing and planted hybrids just so we have trees that survive.

View more comments

The 2026 American Chestnut Symposium is taking shape! The current schedule is live, featuring expert presentations, panel discussions, restoration updates, networking opportunities, and field tours designed to bring our community together around the future of American chestnut restoration

Have research, restoration work, or a project to share? Consider participating in the poster session and connecting with fellow scientists, volunteers, conservation professionals, and chestnut enthusiasts.

Learn more, explore the schedule, and register today at tacf.org/2026-american-chestnut-symposium/

#forestrestoration #conservation #forestry #nativespecies #americanchestnut
... See MoreSee Less

The 2026 American Chestnut Symposium is taking shape! The current schedule is live, featuring expert presentations, panel discussions, restoration updates, networking opportunities, and field tours designed to bring our community together around the future of American chestnut restorationHave research, restoration work, or a project to share? Consider participating in the poster session and connecting with fellow scientists, volunteers, conservation professionals, and chestnut enthusiasts.Learn more, explore the schedule, and register today at https://tacf.org/2026-american-chestnut-symposium/ #ForestRestoration #Conservation #Forestry #NativeSpecies #AmericanChestnutImage attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment

1 CommentComment on Facebook

I will do my best to make it!

What a difference a neighbor can make. 🌳🌳 Our Director of Communications, Jules Smith, recently visited a 10+ year-old hybrid American chestnut covered in burs. Just out of frame is another hybrid chestnut that helped pollinate the tree, resulting in an impressive crop of nuts this year. It's a small but encouraging glimpse of what's possible as we work toward restoring this iconic species. #AmericanChestnut #Trees #Conservation #Nature #RestorationForestry ... See MoreSee Less

12 CommentsComment on Facebook

I heard one of the possible mistakes of the original disease progression of chestnut blight was taking all trees down with signs of blight and not giving trees a chance to demonstrate some resistance. Not sure if that was accurate but it's food for thought as we try to bring them back

So the hybrid trees still get the blight, but can survive it? Rather than just not getting it?

Sorry for the off topic question: I have a 10 year old roughly 4” in diameter that is starting to show signs of blight, in lieu of mud packing I wonder if anyone has painted over it with something waterproof to slow the blight or does the mud do something more than than keep out the oxygen?

View more comments

What a wonderful day at TimberFest! 🌰

We enjoyed connecting with visitors and sharing TACF's mission alongside others who are passionate about forestry and conservation. One of the day's highlights was the unveiling of a chainsaw-carved statue exhibit crafted from trees brought down by Hurricane Helene.

As an organization who's national office is rooted in western North Carolina, it was especially meaningful to see these trees incorporated into an exhibit that honors both the impact of the storm and the resilience of our region. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to learn more about American chestnut restoration and the future of our forests.

#AmericanChestnut #ForestRestoration #Forestry #Conservation #WNC #Explore
... See MoreSee Less

What a wonderful day at TimberFest! 🌰 We enjoyed connecting with visitors and sharing TACFs mission alongside others who are passionate about forestry and conservation. One of the days highlights was the unveiling of a chainsaw-carved statue exhibit crafted from trees brought down by Hurricane Helene. As an organization whos national office is rooted in western North Carolina, it was especially meaningful to see these trees incorporated into an exhibit that honors both the impact of the storm and the resilience of our region. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to learn more about American chestnut restoration and the future of our forests.#AmericanChestnut #ForestRestoration #Forestry #Conservation #WNC #ExploreImage attachmentImage attachment+5Image attachment

1 CommentComment on Facebook

Was this at the Cradle of Forestry?

Load more

Subscribe to the CT Chapter Newsletter

* indicates required