The New Georgia Sprout, Spring 2008 edition

Celebrate 25 Years, The American Chestnut Foundation

Hike A Mile For The American Chestnut 
                       

(Picture Story of American Chestnut Hiking Celebration)

Purchase and Read  Mighty Giants, An American Chestnut Anthology

Join with thousands to save this
King Of The Forest

You may have heard of chestnuts roasting on an open fire or used in Thanksgiving stuffing, but have you ever seen a chestnut tree?  Perhaps not, since the American chestnut, once the crowning glory of Georgia's mountain forests, came close to extinction.

The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) was founded in 1983 by a group of prominent plant scientists who recognized the severe impact the demise of the American chestnut tree imposed upon the local economy of rural communities, and upon the ecology of forests within the tree's native range. The American chestnut tree reigned over 200 million acres of eastern woodlands from Maine to Florida, and from the Piedmont west to the Ohio Valley, until succumbing to a lethal fungus infestation, known as the chestnut blight, during the first half of the 20th century.

The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) works to restore the American chestnut tree, using a scientific research and breeding program. A blight-resistant American chestnut tree is expected to be ready for planting within the next decade.

TACF depends primarily upon its 5000 plus members to support research to develop a blight-resistant American chestnut tree and in locating any survivor so that the science and technology currently available can keep the American Chestnut alive for our future generations.