A while back there was a discovery of some naturally growing American Chestnut trees discovered in Georgia. Now they have discovered some growing in New Hampshire.
LEE, N.H. – The discovery of two more American chestnut trees growing naturally in a local preserve is giving fresh hope to people in New England who want to see the once common tree restored to the northeastern landscape.
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The American Chestnut Foundation, based in Bennington, Vt., is now on a mission to restore the American chestnut by breeding a fungus-resistant tree. It aims to cross-breed American chestnut trees with disease-resistant varieties.
This is where the naturally growing trees found in Lee and other New Hampshire locations as well as in Maine and Georgia come into play.
Healthy American chestnut trees have genetic material that is vital to crossbreeding efforts that aim to retain the more unique characteristics of the American tree, including its height (it grows to 80 feet or more) and rot-resistant timber.
The Lee trees are two adult American chestnuts between 50 to 60 feet tall, Eaton said. They've produced flowers and nuts and appear to be unaffected by the fungus.
The trees are located on land that the town voted to conserve in 2002. Eaton would not disclose the trees' exact location, saying no one should seek them out to touch, climb or otherwise disturb them.
Hopeful signs for the return of a once common tree.
I am a big fan of the project to bring back the American chestnut. I have been following the backcross project at acf.org for several years and wish them nothing but success in returning what was “the redwood of the east” to our forests.
Yeah, I like to post at least a few items that just make you feel good. This is one of them, I think.