I did not know that the American Chestnut Tree is almost extinct in 99% of its native range.

Over the last 140 years over 5 BILLION trees have died due to the chestnut blight, and only a few thousand exist in isolated pockets, with most of them in Canada, and very few lonely trees in the US.

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windinhishair · 61-69, M

There are blight-resistant strains that are commercially available now. I have one in my back yard and am waiting for the nuts so I can propagate them.

Longpatrol · 31-35, M

@windinhishair That's terrific!

windinhishair · 61-69, M

@Longpatrol You can read about current restoration efforts through the American Chestnut Foundation:

https://tacf.org/

robingoodfellow · M

I didn't know this either. Feels like every time I turn around I hear something in nature is disappearing.

windinhishair · 61-69, M

@robingoodfellow A few decades ago, chestnut bushes were very common in the Appalachians. The blight only killed the tree down to the roots, and they would regrow until the blight got the tops again. Eventually that would take a toll and the roots would die. I don't know how common this regrowth is in 2023.

2ndtimeguy · 61-69, M

They had to cut the last few in our area down a few years back

Longpatrol · 31-35, M

@2ndtimeguy sad to hear that

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