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
Up Next: Ginkgo, the Rescue of a Remarkable Tree
Join us on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat webinar.
Special guest, Sir Peter Crane, will explore the inspiring comeback story of the ginkgo tree. Perhaps the world’s most distinctive tree, ginkgo is a botanical oddity and a widely recognized “living fossil.” The lecture will explore the evolutionary and cultural history of the species from its mysterious origin through its proliferation, drastic decline, and ultimate resurgence. Like the American chestnut, the most recent chapters in the evolutionary and cultural biography of ginkgo have been written by people. For a species once on the brink of extinction, what has unfolded has been a remarkable turnaround. Ginkgo is now widely grown, widely known, and a “good news” story, a tree that people saved.
Major New TACF Paper Published in Science
A major new paper published this week in Science marks a turning point in how endangered species can be restored.
“For decades, conservation genetics focused on preserving what remained,” said Dr. Jared Westbrook, lead author of the study and TACF’s Director of Science. “Genomic tools now allow us to actively design restoration programs that improve with each generation. That shift changes what is possible. We can move from static preservation toward dynamic recovery.”
Download a PDF of Genomic approaches to accelerate American chestnut restoration (Westbrook et al., 2026)
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!
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.
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.
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
Preliminary Research to Assess Deer Exclusion Influence on Survival and Growth of American Chestnut Planted in George Washington National Forest
We all know the story by now: a little more than 100 years ago, American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was rapidly removed as an overstory tree throughout the eastern United Sates by the fungal pathogen Cryphonectria parasitica, which causes chestnut blight. Now, The...
Tennessee Chapter Meeting at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens
The Tennessee Chapter of TACF met March 11 at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, a winter wonderland of snow-covered tulip, hyacinth, and redbud blossoms. Ed Schwartzman, Regional Science Coordinator, and Hill Craddock, UTC professor and chestnut grower extraordinaire,...
No Winter Dormancy for PA/NJ Volunteers
The forest may be sleeping but the volunteers of The American Chestnut Foundation continue to move our restoration mission forward through the long winter months. Just in the PA/NJ Chapter alone, we have seen volunteers multiply the efforts of staff on both the...
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.
Upcoming Events
This is an open, drop-in support session for anyone using Dentatabase. Participants are welcome to bring specific questions about their orchards, data entry, record updates, or workflows discussed in recent […]
Join us on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM (Eastern), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat webinar.Special guest, Sir Peter Crane, will explore the inspiring comeback […]
Date: Saturday, April 18th, 2026, 10am-3pm Where: UAlbany ETEC Building, 1220 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12203 Cost: Free for all virtual attendees and TACF members, $20 for in-person non-members Light […]