Rescuing the
American Chestnut
Our mission is to return the iconic American chestnut to its native range.
Our vision is a robust eastern forest returned to its splendor.
Chestnut Chat is Back!
How Breeding has Improved Disease Resistance in Loblolly Pine and prospects for American Chestnut
Join us on Friday, October 10, 2025, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat.
Our special guest, Dr. Trevor Walker, Assistant Professor of Forest Genetics and Co-Director of the Cooperative Tree Improvement Program at NC State University, will share insights from 70 years of breeding loblolly pine for disease resistance, growth, and stem form. He will also consider which practices are likely to succeed for American chestnut, which are not, and why.
Merch of the Month
American Chestnut Insulated Water Bottle
$35
Fall is in the air! It’s time to get outside and hit the trail. And what better way to stay hydrated than with the 20-ounce, insulated water bottle from The American Chestnut Foundation! The vacuum-insulated stainless steel will keep your drinks hot or cold for up to eight hours, and best of all, it shows your support for the restoration of the American chestnut.
- 9 inches tall, 2.8 inches wide
- 20 oz vacuum-insulated stainless steel
- Leak-proof screw-off lid with wooden top
- TACF logo
TACF’s Donor Engagement Officer, Angus, is showing off his favorite way to hydrate while hiking to search for chestnuts.
Harnessing the Power of Genomics
The American Chestnut Foundation is using an advanced breeding method called recurrent genomic selection (RGS) to save the American chestnut. Learn more about this exciting technique by watching this introductory video, or take a deep dive into RGS on our breeding page.
did you know?
TACF is the steward of the most blight-resistant and most genetically diverse majority-American chestnut population in the world. (Meet the trees!)
This population is the foundation of our advanced RGS breeding program!
2025 American Chestnut Photo Contest
Grab your camera and hit the trails—the American Chestnut Photo Contest is back! We’re looking for striking, creative, and unique images of American chestnut trees and hybrids.
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. Open until December 31, 2025
2024 Winner: Blue-gray gnatcatcher chicks in an American chestnut backcross tree, by Anna Rose at Berry College, GA
Support Our Research
Found a tree?
Learn how to identify American chestnuts and send us a sample for identification.
Support The Restoration
Want a tree?
Learn how to get American chestnut seeds from TACF.
Latest News
HemlockFest Also Supports American Chestnut Restoration
The 2019 HemlockFest (November 1-3) was a huge success for everyone involved! The event is a three-day outdoor music festival organized by the Lumpkin Coalition that includes camping and fun for all ages. For the past 15 years, attendees have enjoyed great music, arts...
High-Tech Chestnuts: Researchers Genetically Modify Tree to Save Species
The Associated Press released an article this week about the scientific research at SUNY's College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) to develop a blight-tolerant American chestnut tree using genetic engineering. The article covers the purpose of the...
Optimizing genomic selection for blight resistance in American chestnut backcross populations
Several TACF scientists and collaborators published a paper on using genomics to speed up selection of the 1% most blight-resistant backcross trees in seed orchards at the foundation's Meadowview Research Farms. A major finding was that as we have increased American...
Inspiring!
CLEAR DAY THUNDER: Rescuing the American Chestnut is now available! For just $10, you will receive unlimited views and the ability to download and watch on multiple devices.
All proceeds support The American Chestnut Foundation’s mission to return the iconic American chestnut to its native range.
Science Strategies
Breeding, Biotechnology, and Biodiversity
United for Restoration
The American Chestnut Foundation takes a holistic approach toward chestnut restoration, utilizing a three-pronged research strategy known as 3BUR (Breeding, Biotechnology, and Biodiversity, United for Restoration). These research tracks are implemented through mutually beneficial collaborations, so we can explore all avenues to reach the common goal of saving and restoring this species as quickly as possible.
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🌱 For the third year, TACF’s Meadowview Research Farms team joined Holston River SWCD’s Farm Field Days, engaging approximately 600 Washington County 6th graders! Nursery Manager Brian Henrich (pictured) shared the history of the American chestnut, how blight devastated this keystone species, and TACF’s mission to bring it back. Inspiring the next generation of conservationists is central to our work. 🌳
#americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #ChestnutResearch #meadowviewresearchfarms
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Reminder: This year's American Chestnut Photo Contest goes all the way through the end of the year, so when you're out hiking or harvesting chestnuts, take some photos and submit them to us!
To learn more about the rules and prizes, visit tacf.org/2025-photo-contest/
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Distinguishing features between American and European chestnut would be welcome. I'm sure some American chestnut must have been planted in England before the Boston Tea Party but the species leaves look very similar.
Restoring Trees, Inspiring Hope 🌱 TACF staff Lucinda Wigfield, Jim Tolton, and Brian Henrich joined monitoring efforts for Virginia round-leaf birch (Betula uber) progeny in the Washington & Jefferson National Forest. Led since the 1970s by Dr. Terry Sharik, this collaboration offers valuable lessons from a native tree restoration program well along in reintroduction and long-term monitoring. 🌳
#Restoration #americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #ChestnutResearch #meadowviewresearchfarms
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Growing the Future of Restoration 🌱 Nursery Manager Brian Henrich and Emory & Henry University Bonner Scholar Maddy Rossi-Dupas prepare Large Surviving American (LSA) progeny seedlings—harvested from Lesesne State Forest and grown at Meadowview Research Farms—for Chapter plantings. Meadowview’s efforts extend far beyond its own fields, strengthening TACF Chapters and fueling chestnut restoration across our range.
#americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #ChestnutResearch #meadowviewresearchfarms
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The TACF and local state chapters do an annual seed sale if you are a member. You can look at this page for more info tacf.org/american-chestnut-seeds-and-seedlings/
Bless you all for doing this critical work. Blight resistant American Chestnut trees in my lifetime would be a dream realized.
Love it!!!
Have you visited our events calendar lately? Fall is prime time for chestnuts, so get out into your community and go on a hike, visit an orchard, or purchase a seedling!
Visit tacf.org/events/category/tacf/ for more information about upcoming events in the American chestnut's native range.
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Upcoming Events
The event will begin at 10:00 AM and will finish by 3:00 PM (or earlier). Please bring weather-appropriate clothing, water, a snack, and thick gloves if you have them. To […]
The CT chapter of TACF will have a table at the Durham State Fair in the Education Barn. Come learn about our work, ask all your chestnut-related questions, and enjoy […]