Research
Ohio Chapter TACF Small Grants Program
Grants are available to assist members with active restoration projects within, outreach activities, and scholarly research conducted within the State of Ohio. Click here for Rules, Responsibilities, and Proposal Guidelines.
The Ohio Chapter of American Chestnut Foundation (OH-TACF) was founded largely through the efforts of Ohio scientists and as such has a strong interest in breeding, restoration ecology, and reclamation biology.
Because of the large amount of the land-base disturbed through surface mining in unglaciated Ohio, the chapter has a special devotion towards combining mineland reclamation and chestnut restoration.
Through research funded by the USDI Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, we have explored various ways to regenerate chestnut on previously disturbed minelands. Many post SMCRA lands in Ohio exist has monocultures of non-native species (orchard grass, autumn olive, Lespedeza, etc.) on heavily compacted soils. Natural succession to a hardwood forest community type is virtually arrested and unlikely to occur in normal time frames.
Through much trial and error, we have developed a fairly successful method of planting that results in high survival of bare root seedling plantings. A 48-inch mesh cage protects from deer browsing, a weed mat reduces competition with herbs, gravel reduces mole and vole bark stripping, fertilizer and TerraSorb enhance establishment and promote survival. This method is moderately expensive ($10/seedling) and requires 20 minutes to establish; however, survival is usually greater than 90%. We advocate this method for high quality hybrid seedlings where high survival is desired.
We have successfully used heavy equipment to loosen compacted soils and increase aeration, infiltration, and permeability. We have used a 36-inch ripping bar on a D-6 sized dozer and followed this with a 16-inch surface plow and disk on a large tractor. The above planting method is used after this type of site prep yielding excellent results.
In addition to the studies described above, the Ohio Chapter is currently beginning a program to find surviving chestnuts in Ohio forests, establish demonstration plantings, creating breeding orchards, and advancing various forms of restoration efforts utilizing American chestnut. We welcome all interested parties! Our mission is to keep the American chestnut alive in Ohio for future generations.
If you have any questions regarding current or planned research on American chestnut in Ohio, please contact Brian C. McCarthy at Ohio University.
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Recently, 45 students in grades 5-8 at Christ the King Church & School in Rutland, Vermont, helped harvest American chestnuts from trees planted by 8th graders back in 2019. Students opened burs, explored fertile and sterile seeds, felt the unique textures of the burs, and learned about the history of the American chestnut and the restoration efforts underway today.
A special thank you to TACF member Thomas Estill for leading this engaging experience and helping connect students with one of America's most iconic native trees. The students can't wait to roast them this week and experience that sweet starchy flavor.
#AmericanChestnut #ChestnutRestoration #EnvironmentalEducation #FutureForesters #STEMeducation
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Are they blight resistant?
What a wonderful thing! We recently had three biology classes at Robin Hill Nature Preserve. It was a thrill to see the kids asking questions, making sketches and filling their notebooks.
I did the same with a group of middle school students in northern lower Michigan. I was able to show them both young trees I had planted and mature trees more than likely planted by pioneer settlers to the area in the 1850's. The same family still owns the land the mature trees are on. The mature trees look healthy and are all 40+ feet tall-must have been planted beyond the blight line.
"American chestnut trees were wiped out more than a century ago. Now, new trees that are fungus-resistant are being planted at the zoo."
Read this article by the New York Times about a chestnut tree planting today at the Bronx Zoo, where chestnut blight was first discovered.
Click the following link to read the article: www.nytimes.com/2026/10/05/nyregion/chestnut-trees-bronx-zoo.html?unlocked_article_code=1.GVE.LAU...
#news #americanchestnut #explore #NY #forestry
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We had a chestnut tree in the yard of an air bnb in Washington's Crossing, PA.
They are hybrid trees, not full American.
Utter waste of time. They’ll be dead from the blight in 50 years just like all true Anerican chestnut trees. These scientists are creating hybrids because they cannot stop the blight.
We're grateful to see the important work of American chestnut restoration highlighted by Wild Appalachia.
The segment features WV Chapter member Mark Double and TACF partner Dr. Amy Metheny of WVU, who share why restoring this iconic native tree matters and the progress being made in West Virginia and beyond.
Watch the whole video or read the article here: wchstv.com/community/wild-appalachia/wild-appalachia-american-chestnut-restoration
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my daughter in mt pleasant ny ( catskills) has a huge american chestnut tree in front of her 1904 home. somehow it missed the blight
I just sent this as email to Governor Morrisey in West Virginia. Please do the same and send to everyone and anyone who may be able to help in an effort to save Clements Nursery American Chestnut Grove. "Dear Governor Morrisey. I have learned that a private corporation plans to destroy the grove of American Chestnut trees at Clements Nursery. For the love of god and all that is good in this world please help to preserve these American Chestnut trees. There are not that many genuine American Chestnut trees that are still growing and what you have there in West Virginia is a national treasure that cannot be replaced with any amount of money, gold or riches. I among with many other multi generational Americans believe this grove of trees should be a treasured working national historic landmark producing seeds and seedling for reestablishing genuine pure American Chestnut trees in our Appalachian Mountains and throughout our country."
They are planning to destroy the site on Nov. 1, 2026 for a data center 🙁
Georgia folks, don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Chestnutoberfest happening on October 17th! #Georgia
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