Many blight-resistant American chestnut varieties have been found - TACF calls them “Restoration Chestnuts”.

In that time, lots of hopeful discoveries have been made. Over 25 years ago they created the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project, an effort spearheaded by researchers at State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Organizations such as The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) are on the forefront of research dedicated to restoring these important North American trees to our forests. And, after years of research and millions of dollars of investment, it looks like they may be succeeding! American Chestnut Restoration Since then, tree breeders and researchers have worked to find blight-resistant varieties to bring American chestnuts back to our landscapes and forests. The nuts were also essential to wildlife.Ĭhestnut blight, a deadly fungal disease introduced to the United States from Asia in the early 1900s, destroyed our chestnut forests and threatened the very existence of these important trees. The majestic hardwood trees reached up to 100 feet tall and were favored by Native Americans and early settlers for their fine timber and edible nuts.

One in four trees was a chestnut – there were millions of chestnut trees covering the landscape. Until the 1930s, America’s eastern forests were dominated by the American chestnuts ( Castanea dentata).

Blight resistant chestnut