Connecticut news

2011 CT Chapter Annual Meeting

Bowers Auditorium, Sage Hall, Yale University

Saturday March 26th we'll be hosting the annual meeting of the CT Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation at Bowers Auditorium, Sage Hall, Yale University in New Haven, CT. We have interesting presenters and a fantastic venue – and hope you'll mark you calendar and join us. Should you decide to join, you MUST RSVP by calling Kendra Gurney at 802.951.6771 x1350 or sending her an e-mail at gro.fca@ardnek.

We have been approved to offer qualified attendees two CEU hours of credit in the following licensing categories: Forest Pest Management (category 2), Arborist (category 3D) and Demonstration and Research (category 10). Submission forms and sign-up will be available at the meeting. For further information please contact gro.fca@ardnek.

Simply looking for directions? See the campus map or download the brochure with campus map [340kb] in easily printable format with venue annotations for directions on how to get to the venue.

Topic: Silvical Considerations for American Chestnut Reintroduction

Leila Pinchot is doctoral candidate in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her dissertation explores silvicultural methods for assessing the competitive ability of backcross chestnut seedlings. Leila received her Master's degree from the Yale School of Forestry in 2008. She worked for the American Chestnut Foundation for two years before beginning her work at the University of Tennessee. Ms. Pinchot will present preliminary results from a backcross chestnut forest planting on the Cumberland Plateau of Kentucky. Her talk will cover potential challenges to, as well as recommendations for, the successful establishment of chestnut reintroduction plantings.

For more information about our speaker, visit the University of Tennessee's Tree Improvement Program web-site or read this article highlighting the work of her research group.

Leila Pinchot
[click for larger photo]

Leila Pinchot
Photo: Tracy Powers, UT-TIP

Topic: American Chestnut in Connecticut: Using Geospatial Technology for Site Affinity and Habitat Suitability Modeling

James Hurd is a Research Associate for the Center for Landuse Education and Research (CLEAR), at the University of Connecticut. He spends most of his time looking at the earth from above through satellite and aerial remote sensing imagery and using the technology to generate land cover maps to quantify and characterize the ever changing landscape. His primary research activities focus on the development and application of innovative approaches of remote sensing and geospatial data analysis, particularly as it pertains to landscape characterization and management. Emphasis is on improved land cover mapping and change detection, tidal wetland identification and assessment, impervious surface modeling and estimation, forest fragmentation modeling and quantification, and urban growth/sprawl monitoring. James received BS (1990) and MS (1994) degrees in Natural Resources with a focus on geospatial technologies from the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE) at the University of Connecticut.

James serves as the Director of the Laboratory for Earth Resources Information Systems (LERIS), the principal center at UConn for undergraduate and graduate education and application of remote sensing technology as well as Director of ConnecticutView, one of several nationwide StateView Consortiums making up the AmericaView Program which focus on applied remote sensing research, K-12 and higher STEM education, workforce development, and technology transfer.

For more information about our speaker, visit the University of CT web-site orthe Chestnut Project chestnut project web-site highlighting this work being presented.

James Hurd
[click for larger photo]

James Hurd
Photo: Morty Ortega, UConn

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

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 Yale University for their partnership in planning this meeting and providing the venue for the presentations.

James Hurd
[click for larger photo]

Venue Map

Connecticut news Chapter Menu

National Facebook

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

We’re honored to be highlighted in this AVLtoday feature on the American chestnut’s story in Western North Carolina.

While the path to restoration is long, moments like this remind us how many people care about bringing this tree back to the landscape it once defined.

Thank you to everyone who continues to help this story grow.

Read the article: avltoday.6amcity.com/chestnut-tree-wnc

Photo curtsey of Audrey Snow Owen of PA/NJ TACF

#americanchestnut #explorepage #restoration #conservation #environment #nature #asheville #chestnuts
... See MoreSee Less

We’re honored to be highlighted in this AVLtoday feature on the American chestnut’s story in Western North Carolina. While the path to restoration is long, moments like this remind us how many people care about bringing this tree back to the landscape it once defined.Thank you to everyone who continues to help this story grow.Read the article: https://avltoday.6amcity.com/chestnut-tree-wncPhoto curtsey of Audrey Snow Owen of PA/NJ TACF#americanchestnut #explorepage #restoration #conservation #environment #nature #asheville #chestnuts

Freedom seekers—enslaved Africans and African Americans who escaped slavery in pursuit of freedom—faced hunger, exposure, and unfamiliar terrain as they journeyed north.

Black History Month provides an important opportunity to honor the past while also recognizing how Black knowledge, leadership, and community continue to shape the present. From histories rooted in land and survival to modern platforms and outdoor spaces where connection and representation matter.

Throughout February, we will share a series of four stories that explore Black relationships to land, legacy, and community, looking at both historical foundations and contemporary expressions.

Read more about Freedom Seekers: tacf.org/black-history-and-the-american-chestnut/

#BlackHistoryMonth #americanchestnut #explorepage #chestnuts #BlackHistoryMonth2026 #restoration #conservation #History
... See MoreSee Less

Freedom seekers—enslaved Africans and African Americans who escaped slavery in pursuit of freedom—faced hunger, exposure, and unfamiliar terrain as they journeyed north.Black History Month provides an important opportunity to honor the past while also recognizing how Black knowledge, leadership, and community continue to shape the present. From histories rooted in land and survival to modern platforms and outdoor spaces where connection and representation matter.Throughout February, we will share a series of four stories that explore Black relationships to land, legacy, and community, looking at both historical foundations and contemporary expressions.Read more about Freedom Seekers: https://tacf.org/black-history-and-the-american-chestnut/ #blackhistorymonth #americanchestnut #explorepage #chestnuts #blackhistorymonth2026 #restoration #conservation #historyImage attachmentImage attachment

3 CommentsComment on Facebook

Hopefully they will be developing a mold resistant tree.

That's a really interesting perspective. I think a lot of woodcraft and other types of knowledge about the natural world, like astronomy, had to be shared. Also, marine skills.

Chestnuts?

January might feel like the quiet season, but at our research farms it’s already time to get growing. This month, we’re sowing chestnut seeds that will be used in upcoming research and breeding efforts. Starting seeds in January gives us a valuable head start on the growing season, allowing seedlings to establish early and be ready for genotyping in the spring and summer. Each seed represents an important step forward in our research, helping us better understand growth, resistance, and performance across chestnut species and hybrids. #AmericanChestnut #RestorationInProgress

#ChestnutResearch #ForestRestoration #MeadowviewResearchFarms #ChestnutSeedlings
... See MoreSee Less

Does everyone's staff retreat include fungus, tree bark, and chestnut beer... or just ours?

#americanchestnut #explorepage #restoration #conservation #chestnuts #worktrip #staffretreat
... See MoreSee Less

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

how do we get american chestnut seedlings to plant?

Great video!!!

Load more

Subscribe to the CT Chapter Newsletter

* indicates required