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New Jersey American Chestnut Meeting

Invitation to a New Jersey American Chestnut Meeting Saturday March 11, 2006 Prallsville Mills, Stockton, NJ

The Pennsylvania Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation (PA-TACF) invites you to a general informational meeting for those who would like to assist in Chapter activities in New Jersey.

As part of The American Chestnut Foundation?s (TACF) mission to restore the American chestnut tree to its original range, we are backcrossing the American with the Chinese chestnut tree to breed blight-resistance into the American tree. Although most American chestnut trees died in the early 1900s from an exotic fungus known as the chestnut blight, some of their roots still live and, if undisturbed, will send up new shoots. Typically,
these sprouts get blight after a short time and die again. Our objective is to overcome the fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica and bring back what was once one of the largest hardwood species in North America. More information is on our web
site, http://www.pattacf.org

We will give a history of the American chestnut tree, its uses to man and wildlife, as well as an overview of our current backcross program. After lunch, we will make a short trip to the Jarboe field owned by the New Jersey Conservation
Foundation (NJCF) where we have started four small plots to test the soil. It is in this field that we want to plant several blocks of fifth generation (BC3F2) Graves source of resistance material. At that generation, we expect to have trees with high amounts of blight-resistance, including an
estimated 1.6%, or 1 of 64, of the trees to harbor
full blight-resistance.

For those who wish to see a second field, we will visit NJCF?s Bruce field with 3 year old fourth generation chestnut trees from the Graves source of resistance. After visiting these locations, one should have a better idea of the necessary
maintenance required in maintaining a chestnut orchard. We also hope you will learn how you can help us bring a new food source to man and all wildlife. At the same time we will be creating
jobs for industry and bring the largest tree in the east back from the brink of extinction.

Place Prallsville Mills in Stockton, NJ 08559 (Directions attached).

Date Saturday March 11, 2006

Agenda

  • 10:00am ? 10:45am – PowerPoint slideshow presentation
  • 10:45am ? 11:00am – Questions and Break
  • 11:00am ?12:00pm – What we are doing where in NJ; where you can help and the potential for a chestnut chapter in the Garden State.
  • Lunch 12:00pm – We ask that you bring $5.00 to help cover expenses.
  • Tour 1:00 pm Visit NJCF orchards, weather permitting.
    If the weather is good or bad we will probably be walking in mud. Please dress accordingly.

For additional information, please contact PA-TACF?s Pennsylvania Chestnut Research and Operations Center at Penn State University:

  • Phone: 814-863-7192
  • E-mail: ude.usp@2oks (Sue)
  • Address: 206 Forest Resources Lab
  • University Park, PA 16802

See “Download” link below for printable directions.

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Lucinda’s got a tree to introduce you to 🌳👋
Meet even more trees at tacf.org/meet-the-trees/
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8 CommentsComment on Facebook

This is D2-19-136 if you'd like to view it on our webpage!

Great video, keep them coming.

Thanks. I have one from OIKOS that was advertised as 95% American. Here's the trunk -- alittle blight on the lowest branch at left, but that's been yrs ago and has healed over. It's been putting out male pollen racemes, but they don't open (become fuzzy) -- don't know why.

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Reminder! TACF's 2025 American Chestnut Photo Contest is going on now, with a new, extended deadline!

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. The second-place winner will receive a T-shirt and sticker, and the third-place winner will receive a sticker. All winners will be recognized in a future issue of Chestnut.

Visit tacf.org/2025-photo-contest/ for all the details.
... See MoreSee Less

Reminder! TACFs 2025 American Chestnut Photo Contest is going on now, with a new, extended deadline! 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. The second-place winner will receive a T-shirt and sticker, and the third-place winner will receive a sticker. All winners will be recognized in a future issue of Chestnut.Visit https://tacf.org/2025-photo-contest/ for all the details.

1 CommentComment on Facebook

who has chestnut seeds? i want to grow some.

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.
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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: 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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149 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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