Black History Month: Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention

Published February 4, 2019

Musician, keyboardist, and conservationist, Chuck Leavell. Photo credit: Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

As The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) moves closer to the restoration phase of the American chestnut, we will have to rely not only on public lands but also that of private landowners to create a contiguous, self-sustaining range of the species. With that in mind, and in the spirit of Black History Month, we would like to recommend the new PBS series called America’s Forests with Chuck Leavell, specifically the episode on South Carolina. It highlights the landowners of the Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention (SFLR) program, a partnership between the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and USDA Forest Service (USFS). Hosted by famous musician, keyboardist, and conservationist Chuck Leavell, the episode captures personal stories of family land told by these landowners, as well as tree plantings and forest cruising. You do not want to miss this premier episode.

Here at TACF, we look forward to the day we can play a role in helping to build the SFLR program and increase family wealth through the ability to grow American chestnuts for timber and nut harvesting. To date, the program supports eight project sites across seven states and more than 955 landowners. The participants own a combined 71,000 acres, ensuring land assets remain held by historical landowners. In the video, South Carolina tree farmer Joseph Hamilton speaks confidently about the future of forestland retention for African Americans: “It’s our time. People of color typically are not involved in the forestry arena. But now, I am looking forward to tomorrow. This tree farmer industry is here to stay.”

Note:
Chuck Leavell is also an American chestnut enthusiast! Because of his work with and support of TACF, he received the Foundation’s first Chestnut Conservation Champion Award in late October at its 35th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Meeting in Huntsville, AL. Click here to watch his acceptance speech (Chuck couldn’t attend the meeting because he was touring with the Rolling Stones).

Learn more about America’s Forests with Check Leavell.

Sara Fitzsimmons in 2005 with Jim Gage, Dr Phil Arnold, Dr Robert Gregg

2005
Sara Fern Fitzsimmons with Jim Gage, Dr Phil Arnold, & Dr Robert Gregg

2006, Sara Fitzsimmons pollinates at Stockers

2006
Sara pollinating at Stockers, PA

Sara rating cankers at Thorpewood

Sara rating cankers at Thorpewood, MD

Sara at the 25th Annual TACF meeting

2008
Sara at the 25th Annual TACF Meeting

Sara and the Graves tree

2009
Sara in the PSU Graves Orchard

Sara Fern Fitzsimmons in the Glenn Swank stump, 2009

2009
Sara in the Glenn Swank stump, PA

Sara at the International Chestnut Symposium, 2012

2012
Sara at the International Chestnut Symposium

Sara in Vermont

2014
Sara with Harmony Dalgleish and the Berlin American chestnut in Vermont

Kendra and Sara in the field

Sara and Kendra Collins working in the field

Sara presenting at the 2022 TACF Spring Meeting

2022
Sara presenting at TACF’s Spring Meeting

Sara (in the rocker) with TACF staff at the Fall Meeting

2023
Sara (in the rocker) with TACF staff at the Fall Meeting

Sara Fern Fitzsimmons

2024
Sara in the Penn State greenhouses