Vermont / New Hampshire News

Free Membership With The American Chestnut Foundation for Students at VT and NH Institutions of Higher Education

Appeal to Students
New Student Membership Application Form

What is the most important tree that ever grew in eastern U.S. forests?

American chestnut, Castanea dentata

Why was it so important?

• One of the largest trees in the eastern U.S.; measuring 6-8’ diameter at breast height (DBH).
• The tree once dominated portion of the forest across its native range of 200 million acres.
• A wide diversity of wildlife consumed its nuts as an important food source.
• Livestock was fed by foraging for American chestnuts.
• It was an important traditional human food source.

How was the wood used?

• Lumber was light-weight, strong, rot-resistant and resisted warping.
• The wood was used for furniture making.
• Bridge and railroad construction depended on the strength of the wood.
• Tannin extracted from the wood was used to make leather.

Have you ever seen a large American chestnut tree in the forest?

Probably not! It has been nearly driven to extinction by a fungal disease, chestnut blight, caused by the pathogen Cryphonectria parasitica. Small sprouts from stumps is typically all that is found.

Has this magnificent tree been able to survive the blight?

American Chestnut sprouts still grow across the historic range but they eventually succumb to
chestnut blight. A very small percentage of these trees live long enough to produce nuts.

Is there hope for restoring the American chestnut tree to eastern U.S. forests?

Yes, The American Chestnut Foundation, working with SUNY-ESF (Syracuse), has developed a blight tolerant American chestnut. You can learn more here: https://www.esf.edu/chestnut/ and https://tinyurl.com/ACFrestoration.

What are the priorities for American chestnut restoration in VT/NH?

We need your help to locate wild, flowering American chestnut trees. We will harvest and plant
their nuts to grow trees that preserve genetic diversity for use in future breeding programs.

How can you get involved?

Take advantage of the VT/NH Chapter Free Student Membership offer by completing and
submitting the  application form and participate in chestnut restoration activities.

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Volunteer opportunity In Pennsylvania for bur shucking! ... See MoreSee Less

Volunteer opportunity In Pennsylvania for bur shucking!Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

9 CommentsComment on Facebook

What wonderful work you are doing.

When you guys want volunteers to plant 🌱 baby chestnut 🌰 trees let me know. I will plant in my area and have friends that would love to volunteer

I pray they all will be successfully planted

Which campus?

What do you do with them after you harvest them? I love to eat them but the worms bear me to them most of the time

Wish I was closer I would love to help .

Where can I get established American chestnut seedlings 🌱 for my property?

We want some seedlings to plant in Bedford pa

Send me a few, I've got 5 Acers in Ga.

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2 days ago
The American Chestnut Foundation

Great news: a special Chestnut Chat featuring student flash talks and a virtual poster session is taking place on October 20, 2023. This Chat will provide opportunities for students and professionals alike to share cutting-edge research, explore partnerships, and discuss the many facets of American chestnut restoration through a series of flash talks and a poster presentation. All are welcome to participate – student and professional alike.
There will be special opportunities for students to give flash talks, as well as participate in a student poster competition. This year, students participating in the poster competition must also present a flash talk. We hope you will join us!

Submissions are due by Friday, September 29, 2023. Please visit the link in comments for detailed information.

We encourage you to share this post with any colleagues who may be interested.
... See MoreSee Less

Great news: a special Chestnut Chat featuring student flash talks and a virtual poster session is taking place on October 20, 2023. This Chat will provide opportunities for students and professionals alike to share cutting-edge research, explore partnerships, and discuss the many facets of American chestnut restoration through a series of flash talks and a poster presentation. All are welcome to participate – student and professional alike.
There will be special opportunities for students to give flash talks, as well as participate in a student poster competition. This year, students participating in the poster competition must also present a flash talk. We hope you will join us!

Submissions are due by Friday, September 29, 2023. Please visit the link in comments for detailed information.

We encourage you to share this post with any colleagues who may be interested.

Watch a recording of the live September 15,
2023 Chestnut Chat webinar about Darling
58 regulatory updates.
TACF's Chief Conservation Officer Sara Fitzsimmons and SUNY ESF’s American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project Director Andy Newhouse, along with others, shared the latest updates about the current status of the Darling 58 transgenic American chestnut.

... See MoreSee Less

Video image

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