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CT Chapter 2015 Annual Meeting

Dr. Wagner, one of the world’s foremost experts on Lepidoptera, will be talking about The Ecological Meltdown of American Chestnut: A Glimpse at the Little Ones that Got Left Behind and What Still Might Be. Dr. Wagner is Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Connecticut. His lecture is just one of the reasons to attend our annual meeting.

Saturday April 18th we’ll be hosting the annual meeting of the CT Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation at CT Forest and Parks Association Goodwin Center in, Rockfall, CT. We have an interesting presenter and a fantastic venue – and hope you’ll mark you calendar and join us. If you’re a member of the Chapter you should have received a postcard announcing the meeting. Should you decide to join, Please RSVP by calling Kendra Gurney at 802.999.8706 or sending her an e-mail at gro.fca@ardnek.

Topic: The Ecological Meltdown of American Chestnut: A Glimpse at the Little Ones that Got Left Behind and What Still Might Be.

Dr. David Wagner is one of the worlds foremost experts on Lepidoptera. In a conversation several years ago, David made the following attention grabbing comment

“American chestnut extinction correlates to the greatest invertebrate extinctions on earth in the modern era. That there are only 61 invertebrate extinctions in modern era … 41 in North America and of those, 5 are directly related to loss of chestnut.”
Dr. David Wagner

We’re looking forward to an exciting talk!

About Our Speaker: Dr. David Wagner is Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and co-director of the Center for Conservation and Biodiversity at the University of Connecticut.

Schizura-ipomoeae .. a Chestnut loving lepidoptera

His research interests are in the biosystematic of moths and invertebrate conservation. He has published four books on caterpillars of eastern North America; his 2005 guide with Princeton University Press, Caterpillars of Eastern North America: A Guide to Identification and Natural History, is in its seventh printing. He published two new books in 2011: one on Rare, Declining, and Poorly Known Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) of Forests and Woodlands in the Eastern United States and a caterpillar identification guide to the Owlet Caterpillars of Eastern North America. Wagner has a deep interest in matters relating to insect conservation. He chairs the Connecticut’s Advisory Panel for rare and endangered insects and other invertebrates and is frequently called upon by governmental agencies and NGOs for his advice on the Northeast’s imperiled insect biota.

For more information about our speaker, download his biographical sketch, or visit his Entomology Lab web-page at the University of Connecticut’s Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology.

Goodwin Center, CT Forest & Parks[click for larger photo]
Goodwin Center, CT Forest & Parks

The presentations will be followed by operational meetings attended by those of you with an interest or business in attending. You are welcome to attend just those sections of the meeting that interest you as outlined in the agenda below.

Agenda – Saturday April 18th
9:30am Opening Reception
10:00am Introduction and Speakers
12:00pm CT-TACF Annual Meeting followed by Lunch
1:00pm CT-TACF Board Meeting – Open to All!
2:30pm Expected close of Chapter Business

The program is free to both members and non-members, as is lunch for those who advance register. To advance register e-mail to indicate your interest in attending. Details on logistics, parking and presentation venues, will be provided well in advance of the meeting.

We thank CT Forest and Parks for their partnership in planning this meeting and providing the venue for the presentations.

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Celebrate the legacy of Rex Mann—forester, storyteller, and passionate champion for the American chestnut—with this limited edition Leave Tracks t-shirt.

Rex devoted his life to restoring forests and inspiring others to care for the land. Now, you can honor his memory and help carry his mission forward.

🌳 100% of the proceeds from every shirt go to The American Chestnut Foundation (THANK YOU!), supporting the work Rex believed in so deeply.

👉 Pre-order now through August 2: scottmann.com/store/Leave-Tracks-In-Honor-of-Rex-Mann-PREORDER-p768130686

Let’s keep walking the trail Rex helped blaze.
... See MoreSee Less

Celebrate the legacy of Rex Mann—forester, storyteller, and passionate champion for the American chestnut—with this limited edition Leave Tracks t-shirt.Rex devoted his life to restoring forests and inspiring others to care for the land. Now, you can honor his memory and help carry his mission forward.🌳 100% of the proceeds from every shirt go to The American Chestnut Foundation (THANK YOU!), supporting the work Rex believed in so deeply.👉 Pre-order now through August 2: https://scottmann.com/store/Leave-Tracks-In-Honor-of-Rex-Mann-PREORDER-p768130686Let’s keep walking the trail Rex helped blaze.

We’re excited to share a new animated video explaining TACF’s RGS program! ... See MoreSee Less

Video image

1 CommentComment on Facebook

Transgenic American Chestnuts are still a much better option. The product of this method will always be a hybrid and that should not be the goal.

One of the greatest ecological disasters the US has ever seen. Chestnut blight wiped out the American chestnut tree in less than 50 years.⁠
A tree that once made up nearly 25% of the eastern forests was reduced to a functionally extinct species.⁠

The Asian fungus Cryphonectria parasitica was accidentally introduced into the United States in the late 1800s. While a few diseased chestnuts were noted in the 1880s and 90s, it wasn't until 1904 that the pathogen was identified in New York City. From that point, the blight spread rapidly. By 1950 the entire range had been consumed.⁠

The fungus causes cankers that spread around the trunk of the tree, girdling it and killing everything above ground. Many root systems still survive today and continue to send up shoots, but these also eventually succumb to blight. Because American chestnuts rarely survive long enough to reproduce, the species is considered functionally extinct.⁠

The American Chestnut Foundation is working to develop blight-resistant American chestnuts that can be used to restore this iconic tree to its native range. Learn more at tacf.org/about-us (link in bio)
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141 CommentsComment on Facebook

I think I may have found an American Chestnut tucked away in a backyard

Incredibly important work…it was such a travesty for our forests!

The trees seem to still be intact outside their range in isolated areas. Theres a few large ones here in central Michigan on a peninsula and again on the Leelenau peninsula in the nw lower peninsula. I keep seeing people chime in about adult trees here and there. Seems like there's hope!

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Just another day working to bring back the American chestnut. 🌰 ... See MoreSee Less

6 CommentsComment on Facebook

Yikes. Most of those pictures look like very Chinese hybrids.

I have a very old American chestnut tree that has the blight . It gets chocked off then gets new growth. It got a lot of wind this year and lost a lot of the blooms. It produces nuts still . Does anyone want to get a start of the new fruit before I move or pass way ? I’m afraid the new owners will destroy it. This was the only reason I wanted this house in the late 80’s .

Hope you are successful!!!

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Especially if you're under a canopy of American chestnuts... ... See MoreSee Less

Especially if youre under a canopy of American chestnuts...

6 CommentsComment on Facebook

Unless, of course, it's fall. Then the chestnut seed pods are falling from the trees and creating a floor covered in pins and needles so sharp that it puts sweetgum to shame. You wouldn't want to be laying under the chestnut canopy then!

I live in Barboursville, WV and wanted to know if i can buy a seedling or how i go about acquiring one! Thank you!

The SHADE TREE COMMISSION in NEW PALTZ New York is interested in planting some CHESTNUT trees on Chestnut Street (Rt. 32). We would like to receive help from you if possible. New Paltz is a historic town and in the past there were MANY Chestnut trees here, Presently there is only ONE Chestnut tree which I grew from the nut of an elegant, large tree when it was sadly cut down. If there are any Chestnut trees available, or if you have any suggestion that might help us in this quest we would be greatful. Thank you for your attention., Shelly Ottens (moc.oohay@obobnyllehsih)

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