A hundred years ago, the American chestnut was the redwood of the East. It was big, and it was everywhere, especially in the southern Appalachians. But, today, it’s just a shrub and is, functionally, extinct.

With chestnuts having gone through such a dramatic decline, restoration has been a priority, and it’s been a restoration effort unlike many others. It’s been one of the most passionate efforts an American tree has ever seen.

Related Research:

Scientists:

Leila Pinchot, Research Ecologist, Northern Research Station, Delaware, Ohio
Bethany Baxter, American Chestnut Oral History Project, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Ella Preston, American Chestnut Oral History Project, Letcher County, Kentucky
Harding Ison, American Chestnut Oral History Project, Letcher County, Kentucky
James Mullins, American Chestnut Oral History Project, Dickenson County, Virginia

Produced by the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station.

Want more information? Visit us at https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/nrs/products/multimedia/podcasts/forestcast-season-2-backcross-episode-3-past-present-and-future

Questions or ideas for the show? Connect with Jon at: jonathan.yales@usda.gov

Backcross: The Past, Present and Future of American Chestnut 41:06 Share

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Backcross: The Past, Present and Future of American Chestnut