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.
Ohio Chapter Menu
National Facebook
We had a great time at our recent spring meeting, part of which included a tour of Meadowview Research Farms for staff and our board of directors. We discussed current projects and the future of the recurrent genomic selection (RGS) program, and highlighted important infrastructure needs that will help support future growth and continued research efforts. Investing in these areas will be key to advancing our mission and strengthening the work being done. We could not have done this alone; thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to such a productive and inspiring day!
#americanchestnut #RestorationInProgress #chestnutresearch #forestrestoration #meadowviewresearchfarms #conservationscience
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
April events! Kicking things off is Chestnut Chat, an event open to everyone, everywhere.
Visit our events calendar for more information on each event.
#explorepage #chestnutchat #events #getinvolved #ActNow
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Check out this article on Clemson News about how scientists from Clemson University, Virginia Tech and The American Chestnut Foundation are using genomic selection to develop trees capable of surviving chestnut blight and Phytophthora root rot.
Read the article to hear more about Clemson's role in studying Phytophthora root rot: news.clemson.edu/clemson-scientists-help-advance-effort-to-restore-the-american-chestnut/
#explorepage #news #environment #americanchestnut #nature
63 CommentsComment on Facebook
Good luck
To have the American chestnut tree back would be so great. I remember them. Yep, I am that old!
Would have loved to seen them when they covered the Eastern Forest , Great news on developing a blight and root rot resistant Chestnut
We are not apart from the Earth—we are a part of it. Not something to own or use, but something we belong to. A living part of us, meant to be loved and cared for as deeply as anything else we hold dear.
#restoration #conservation #americanchestnut #chestnut #trees #trending
1 CommentComment on Facebook
“Conservation is getting nowhere because it is incompatible with our Abrahamic concept of land. We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” ― Aldo Leopold
TACF is hiring!
We’re looking for a 2026 New England Restoration Intern to support hands‑on chestnut breeding and forest restoration work across our New England chapters. This paid summer internship offers real‑world experience in plant breeding, field research, orchard management, and conservation science. 🌱
Know someone who’d be a great fit? Tag them!
Visit tacf.org/employment/ to find out more information and apply!
#americanchestnut #internship #hiring #explorepage #conservation #forestrestoration