TACF in the News
Media Stories About The American Chestnut Foundation
For more than four decades, The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) has led the effort to restore the iconic American chestnut tree, uniting advanced scientific research with the strength of a dedicated network of chapters and partners across the eastern United States. This page highlights media coverage showcasing TACF’s pioneering work and enduring commitment to one of the most significant ecological restoration projects of our time.
Newspaper & Magazine Articles
Featured Article
Garden and Gun
Date: July 24, 2025
Title: For the First Time in Decades, Hikers Can Walk in Forests of Mature, Wild American Chestnuts
Excerpt: “When you visit these places,” says Scrivani, “you’re experiencing a monumental step in the restoration of a historic landscape that had basically vanished from the earth.” Read here.
For the first time in decades, hikers can walk in forests of mature, wild American chestnuts
Garden and Gun (7/24/2025)
This isn’t a gimmick’: the New Yorkers trying to restore the American chestnut
The Guardian (6/19/2025)
The Problem With Darling 58: The fight to save America’s iconic tree has become a civil war
New York Magazine, Intelligencer (5/27/2024)
Genetic engineering was meant to save chestnut trees. Then there was a mistake.
The Washington Post (12/24/2023)
The American Chestnut Foundation: Restoring a Foundational Eastern Tree Species
The Laurel of Asheville (11/18/2023)
Television
Featured Program
Human Footprint on PBS
Date: July 30, 2025
Title: Vanishing Act (Season 2, Episode 6)
Excerpt: The American Chestnut Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring the American chestnut back to its original range. American chestnuts once numbered in the billions. They sustained wildlife– from deer to turkey, and black bears to passenger pigeons– and they were the foundation for an entire subsistence culture in Appalachia. Watch here.
Vanishing Act
Human Footprint, PBS. Season 2: Episode 6 (7/30/2025)
Working to Bring Back the American Chestnut
WHTM Harrisburg, PA (10/4/2023)
Podcasts & Radio
Featured Episode
From the Forest
Title: The American Chestnut Foundation with Vasiliy Lakoba
Date: July 10, 2025
Excerpt: On this week’s show we’ll be discussing American chestnut with Vasiliy Lakoba from the national organization–The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF). As many of you know, American chestnut has been made “functionally extinct” from the devastating chestnut blight brought in from Asia in the last century. We’ll discuss how TACF plans to bring back the tree as well as their recent parting with SUNY College of Enviornmental Science & Forestry’s transgenic chestnut project as well. Listen here.
The American Chestnut Foundation with Vasiliy Lakoba
From the Forest (7/10/2025)
American Chestnut – Tragedy and Inspiration
Nature Nuggets, Episode 23 (9/28/2024)
Fear and the Chestnut Tree
Common Land, Episode 3 (7/9/2025)
Saving the American Chestnut Tree
Maine Calling, Maine Public Radio (4/26/2024)
After GMO program hits snag, what’s the future of restoring American chestnuts?
Radio IQ (2/27/2024)