From November 27-29, 2012, some 20 volunteers from the U.S. Forest Service, Virginia Forestry Department, Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists and The American Chestnut Foundation planted nearly 1200 chestnut seedlings at an undisclosed location in Jefferson National Forest in Craig County, Virginia. The seedlings were planted mostly in areas cleared of gypsy moth-infected red oak trees. The seedlings were from the stock of newly-bred hybrid American chestnuts that are composed of 15/16 American chestnut genes, retaining 1/16 Chinese chestnut genes for disease resistance.
For more information:
A WDBJ7 video clip on the planting
A Roanoke Times story on the planting
Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists blog entry
Contact Matt Brinckman at The American Chestnut Foundation
