Maine News

Calling Volunteers to Chestnuts Across Maine

Chestnuts Across Maine (CAM) is an exciting, new initiative of the Maine chapter of TACF.  Our chapter is partnering with land trusts, state parks, schools, and town squares in Maine to establish small plantings of American chestnuts on lands open to the public.  This is a long-term, multi-generational commitment that achieves many of the goals of TACF.  Moreover, CAM gives you a way to activate and to engage others in your community to return the American chestnut to a field or forest near you.

Maine has more wild living chestnuts than any other state, making it our chapter’s duty to conserve their genes for future breeding.  As you probably know, the only way to keep Maine’s wild chestnut genetics alive is to grow them.  While our large Gene Conservation Orchards are useful, blight can establish and rip through one in a few years.  CAM aims to disperse Maine genetics across the state in small groupings as a form of insurance.  Not only will the miles between them serve as a layer of protection but this initiative brings chestnuts closer to our members and their communities.

We are starting small but thinking big!  In 2024 we launched CAM and planted 9 groves of trees with help from 9 partner organizations and land trusts. Their enthusiastic embrace of this vision and commitment of time and resources reassures us that we are on the right path.  Within 5 years we’d like to have chestnuts growing within a one-hour drive of all of our members. Within 10 years we plan to reduce that to one half hour.

Think of each grove as a nearby spot where you can help grow chestnuts and engage others in the restoration of the American chestnut to Maine. If you’re game to get involved in a small but valuable role, you might just be a candidate to lead or join a local Chestnut Restoration Team.  Explore the Chestnuts Across Maine webpages for more details and contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Eva Butler at moc.liamg@fcaeniam.reetnulov to figure out the best fit for your time and talents.

Maine News Chapter Menu

National Facebook

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

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.
... See MoreSee Less

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)
... See MoreSee Less

142 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!

View more comments

Just another day working to bring back the American chestnut. 🌰 ... See MoreSee Less

6 CommentsComment on Facebook

Yikes. Most of those pictures look like very Chinese hybrids.

I have a very old American chestnut tree that has the blight . It gets chocked off then gets new growth. It got a lot of wind this year and lost a lot of the blooms. It produces nuts still . Does anyone want to get a start of the new fruit before I move or pass way ? I’m afraid the new owners will destroy it. This was the only reason I wanted this house in the late 80’s .

Hope you are successful!!!

View more comments

Especially if you're under a canopy of American chestnuts... ... See MoreSee Less

Especially if youre under a canopy of American chestnuts...

6 CommentsComment on Facebook

Unless, of course, it's fall. Then the chestnut seed pods are falling from the trees and creating a floor covered in pins and needles so sharp that it puts sweetgum to shame. You wouldn't want to be laying under the chestnut canopy then!

I live in Barboursville, WV and wanted to know if i can buy a seedling or how i go about acquiring one! Thank you!

The SHADE TREE COMMISSION in NEW PALTZ New York is interested in planting some CHESTNUT trees on Chestnut Street (Rt. 32). We would like to receive help from you if possible. New Paltz is a historic town and in the past there were MANY Chestnut trees here, Presently there is only ONE Chestnut tree which I grew from the nut of an elegant, large tree when it was sadly cut down. If there are any Chestnut trees available, or if you have any suggestion that might help us in this quest we would be greatful. Thank you for your attention., Shelly Ottens (moc.oohay@obobnyllehsih)

View more comments

Load more
Subscribe Here to receive our bi-annual newsletter and learn about events and activities around Maine such as, local events and presentations, ceremonial tree plantings, seedling/seed sales, and requests for volunteers at certain times of the year to help with the restoration effort.