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.

Chestnut Chat Series

Join us October 20 from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EDT), for TACF’s next LIVE Chestnut Chat featuring student flash talks and a virtual poster session.

As part of our Annual Fall Meeting we look forward to our annual poster session and student flash talks. This year, we’re moving them into a virtual space! We will devote our October Chestnut Chat to a series of flash talks highlighting student work. A virtual poster session will follow and all are welcome to participate – student and professional alike (view the Request for Proposals). The event will be hosted by Kendra Collins, TACF’s Director of Regional Programs. We hope you will join us! 

TACF student poster sessions
Blue Jay print

This beautiful print is now available!

As any chestnut enthusiast knows, it is a Race to the Finish to harvest nuts before the blue jays and squirrels. Maine Chapter President Mark McCollough painted this piece after being inspired by naturalist Bernd Heinrich’s observations of blue jays harvesting and caching American chestnuts throughout his woodlot in western Maine. All proceeds will benefit TACF conservation programs. A limited number of these 9 3/4″ x 12 3/4″ signed giclée prints are available through November 15. Learn more here.

TACF 40th Anniversary logo

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.

TACF 40th Anniversary celebrations

Science Strategies

Breeding, Biotechnology, and Biocontrol
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 Biocontrol United for Restoration). These research tracks are meant to be integrated through collaborations that are mutually beneficial, so we can explore all avenues to reach the common goal of saving and restoring this species as quickly as possible.

Support Our Research

How to identify an American chestnut tree

Learn how to identify American chestnuts and send us a sample for identification.

Support The Restoration

How to receive American chestnut seeds & seedlings

Learn how to get American chestnut seeds and seedlings from TACF.

Latest News

New Documentary Release

New Documentary Release

The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) is excited to announce the release of CLEAR DAY THUNDER: Rescuing the American Chestnut, a documentary about the grassroots efforts of passionate citizen scientists and researchers working to restore this ecologically and economically significant tree species.

read more
Teaching Pollination Techniques to Enthusiastic Volunteers

Teaching Pollination Techniques to Enthusiastic Volunteers

The Tennessee Chapter held a very successful one-day pollination workshop on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at the beautiful Chestnut Ridge Orchard in Middle Tennessee. The workshop was a hands-on opportunity to learn and practice techniques to make controlled crosses for TACF’s breeding program.

read more

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Volunteer opportunity In Pennsylvania for bur shucking! ... See MoreSee Less

Volunteer opportunity In Pennsylvania for bur shucking!Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

12 CommentsComment on Facebook

What wonderful work you are doing.

When you guys want volunteers to plant 🌱 baby chestnut 🌰 trees let me know. I will plant in my area and have friends that would love to volunteer

I pray they all will be successfully planted

What do you with with all the nuts?

Which campus?

Where can I get established American chestnut seedlings 🌱 for my property?

What do you do with them after you harvest them? I love to eat them but the worms bear me to them most of the time

Wish I was closer I would love to help .

Where can I purchase chestnut trees I live in ohio harrison county. I have seventy acres and would love to start Chestnuts in this area. Also is this a club that I can join

We want some seedlings to plant in Bedford pa

Send me a few, I've got 5 Acers in Ga.

Do the worms kill the chestnut. Most I found last year had worm holes in the shells or seed part before opening. Dod biopsy on one and saw the little white worm. Made it to the good part. Roasting takes care of them foe eating but will they still grow ??

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4 days ago
The American Chestnut Foundation

Great news: a special Chestnut Chat featuring student flash talks and a virtual poster session is taking place on October 20, 2023. This Chat will provide opportunities for students and professionals alike to share cutting-edge research, explore partnerships, and discuss the many facets of American chestnut restoration through a series of flash talks and a poster presentation. All are welcome to participate – student and professional alike.
There will be special opportunities for students to give flash talks, as well as participate in a student poster competition. This year, students participating in the poster competition must also present a flash talk. We hope you will join us!

Submissions are due by Friday, September 29, 2023. Please visit the link in comments for detailed information.

We encourage you to share this post with any colleagues who may be interested.
... See MoreSee Less

Great news: a special Chestnut Chat featuring student flash talks and a virtual poster session is taking place on October 20, 2023. This Chat will provide opportunities for students and professionals alike to share cutting-edge research, explore partnerships, and discuss the many facets of American chestnut restoration through a series of flash talks and a poster presentation. All are welcome to participate – student and professional alike.
There will be special opportunities for students to give flash talks, as well as participate in a student poster competition. This year, students participating in the poster competition must also present a flash talk. We hope you will join us!

Submissions are due by Friday, September 29, 2023. Please visit the link in comments for detailed information.

We encourage you to share this post with any colleagues who may be interested.

Watch a recording of the live September 15,
2023 Chestnut Chat webinar about Darling
58 regulatory updates.
TACF's Chief Conservation Officer Sara Fitzsimmons and SUNY ESF’s American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project Director Andy Newhouse, along with others, shared the latest updates about the current status of the Darling 58 transgenic American chestnut.

... See MoreSee Less

Video image

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

The Georgia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation The American Chestnut Foundation - Kentucky Chapter Tennessee Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation West Virginia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation Virginia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation Ohio Chapter of The American Chestnut foundation The Indiana Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation PA/NJ Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation

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Upcoming Events

2:00PM - 6:30PM

The TVA Orchard in Muscle Shoals AL is ready for harvest. Swing by to help out and take some chestnuts home! The TVA orchard has been a staple of the […]

6:30PM - 8:30PM

Thursday September 28 at 6:30 pm in the Town Hall Assembly Room on Bentley Drive in Harwinton. Presented by the Harwinton Public Library and Harwinton Land Conservation Trust. Join us […]