It is an exciting time to be an active supporter of the Virginia Chapter. Twenty five years of rigorous scientific work at Meadowview have produced the restoration chestnut. The focus of restoration is now shifting to local breeding efforts and field plantings throughout the native range in Virginia and other states.
Developing local breeding populations is a key component of our restoration plan. The Virginia Chapter started breeding efforts in the Northern Piedmont in 2007. In 2009 we expanded to Central Virginia, establishing orchards in Madison and Nelson Counties. We are very grateful for the support of Earle Martin, Rob and Betsy Porter, Mark Ohrstrom, and The Nature Conservancy in establishing four new orchards in 2010.
In 2011 we plan to expand into the Shenandoah Valley and Allegheny Mountains, looking for surviving American chestnuts to serve as mother trees this spring. We expect orchards in the next year or two in this area, an area that once had some of the highest densities of American chestnuts found in the native range.
This past year we welcomed Katy McCune, the Mid-Atlantic regional science coordinator, to her office in Charlottesville. Katy has provided key help with the chapter breeding program and organized a very successful restoration symposium this January in
Staunton. We thank the many members who came out for the symposium and provided valuable feedback and new ideas. We are also working with Katy to establish the first restoration field test planting in Amherst County this spring.
Last year was a successful season for the Appalachian Trail Mega-Transect project. Thirty-six teams hiked 191 miles of the AT, counting chestnuts and finding 42 large survivors. The Virginia Chapter led this multi-state effort providing training, mapping and data support. We look to expand the Mega-Transect to more miles of trail in more states this coming season.
The opportunities for volunteers abound, from finding large survivors, to assisting with control pollination, establishing breeding orchards, planting restoration trees, and counting chestnuts along the AT. We look forward to seeing you in the field.
