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.
Chestnut Chat is Back!
How Breeding has Improved Disease Resistance in Loblolly Pine and prospects for American Chestnut
Join us on Friday, October 10, 2025, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat.
Our special guest, Dr. Trevor Walker, Assistant Professor of Forest Genetics and Co-Director of the Cooperative Tree Improvement Program at NC State University, will share insights from 70 years of breeding loblolly pine for disease resistance, growth, and stem form. He will also consider which practices are likely to succeed for American chestnut, which are not, and why.
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.
2025 American Chestnut Photo Contest
Grab your camera and hit the trails—the American Chestnut Photo Contest is back! We’re looking for striking, creative, and unique images of American chestnut trees and hybrids.
The first-place winner will have their photo featured on the cover of a future issue of Chestnut magazine and receive a one-year TACF membership, along with a T-shirt and hat. Open until December 31, 2025
2024 Winner: Blue-gray gnatcatcher chicks in an American chestnut backcross tree, by Anna Rose at Berry College, GA
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
Michael Goergen Named President & CEO of The American Chestnut Foundation
The American Chestnut Foundation’s (TACF) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Michael Goergen has been appointed as the organization’s new President & CEO and will begin in mid-September 2025. He will succeed interim President & CEO Bruce Levine. A...
End of an Era: Honoring Sara Fitzsimmons’ Remarkable Journey with TACF
Thank You, Sara: Celebrating Over 20 Years of Passion and LeadershipAfter more than two decades with The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF), Chief Conservation Officer Sara Fern Fitzsimmons has accepted a new role as Technologies for Agriculture and Living Systems...
A New Beginning: Fresh Leadership for TACF’s New York Chapter
The Executive Committee of The American Chestnut Foundation’s (TACF) Board of Directors voted in May 2025 to establish a newly restructured, unincorporated New York (NY) Chapter. We warmly welcome a dynamic new leadership team: President Dazzle Ekblad, Treasurer Kurt...
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.
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.
Find us on Facebook
We'll be co-hosting American Chestnut Day at the NC Arboretum this Saturday! If you're local, we hope you'll join us for a fun day of speakers, activities, and even a wild-type chestnut seedling sale!
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Chestnut Chat returns!
Join us on Friday, October 10, 2025, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat.
Our special guest, Dr. Trevor Walker, Assistant Professor of Forest Genetics and Co-Director of the Cooperative Tree Improvement Program at NC State University, will share insights from 70 years of breeding loblolly pine for disease resistance, growth, and stem form. He will also consider which practices are likely to succeed for American chestnut, which are not, and why.
Visit tacf.org/event/chestnut-chat-breeding-disease-resistance-in-loblolly-pine/ to learn more or register.
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What is EPT? Do you mean Eastern standard time?
Can't wait for the Chestnut Chat, sounds like a great opportunity to learn! 🎯
🌱 TACF’s Meadowview Research Farms team joined the Clinch Valley SWCD Natural Resources Festival in Russell County, sharing the story of the American chestnut with hundreds of local students. Lucinda Wigfield and Jim Tolton led engaging talks on the tree’s history, the devastation of blight, and TACF’s efforts to restore this keystone species. Inspiring young minds remains central to our mission. 🌳
#americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #ChestnutResearch #meadowviewresearchfarms
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We picked this guy up at a booth earlier in the summer. It’s just started getting the darker spots on its leaves. Is it okay? Too wet? Losing its leaves for the winter? Should we keep it indoors now and give it a grow light?
It's shucking season in the South!
TACF's Director of Regional Science & Southern Regional Science Coordinator Jamie Van Clief shucks and sorts chestnut burs in TACF's Asheville office.
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I learned the hard way don't eat too many at one time. I could back up and spray paint a barn door
How do you keep em from getting wormy if you plan to keep em any length of time !!!!!!! I know the eggs are already in em but how do you keep em from hatching ?!!
How do you tell the difference between an American chestnut and a Chinese chestnut?
🌱 For the third year, TACF’s Meadowview Research Farms team joined Holston River SWCD’s Farm Field Days, engaging approximately 600 Washington County 6th graders! Nursery Manager Brian Henrich (pictured) shared the history of the American chestnut, how blight devastated this keystone species, and TACF’s mission to bring it back. Inspiring the next generation of conservationists is central to our work. 🌳
#americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #ChestnutResearch #meadowviewresearchfarms
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Upcoming Events
Now that we have harvested all the burs, it will be time to shuck them open and count up all the chestnuts we harvested. Stop by anytime if you only […]
Save the date for American Chestnut Day at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville! The National TACF office and the NC/SC Chapter will be hosting a Chestnut Day at the […]
Hike along a trail with various identified tree species, see native American chestnut trees, and backcross breed chestnut trees, the tabletop overlook, rock quarry remains, wetlands, ledges and an old […]