WNC is known for the biodiversity of its forests. But flash back a few decades ago, trekking through places like the Nantahala National Forest would have looked a lot different with the American chestnut tree towering in these woods.
Once known as the “redwood of the East,” they often reached heights of 150 feet, and are among the largest, tallest, and fastest-growing trees in the US. Foresters dubbed them “the most useful tree in the woods,” feeding wildlife and livestock, supporting farmers, and supplying light, rot-resistant wood for furniture, fences, and buildings.
But then came the blight. At the turn of the 20th century, a fungal pathogen (Cryphonectria parasitica) attacked the American chestnut tree, and by the 1950s, the chestnut blight had killed billions of trees. According to The American Chestnut Foundation, “the American chestnut tree survived all adversaries for 40 million years, then disappeared within 40.”
Rooting for a comeback
Local companies + organizations like Biltmore + Navitat have partnered with the Asheville-based American Chestnut Foundation to provide test sites + foster growth of the chestnut trees in WNC. The hope is that by restoring the American chestnut, we can improve our forest ecosystem and restore biodiversity.
Today, if any wild chestnuts are found in Eastern forests, they rarely grow more than a few feet tall and seldom reach maturity or produce viable nuts. While the species still survives as root sprouts, its natural ability to reproduce and sustain forest populations has been severely limited by the blight.
In hopes of bringing back the species, researchers got creative and developed back-cross hybrid trees that combine the blight resistance of Chinese chestnuts with the ecological traits of the native American chestnut. In 2009, 1,000 potentially blight-resistant chestnut trees were planted in the Nantahala National Forest, and two additional plantings took place in Tennessee + Virginia.
Since then, a great number of the saplings across the three national forests have survived. As the trees mature, their blight resistance will be tested. With ongoing refinement + research, scientists hope widespread restoration of the American chestnut may become a reality in the coming decades.
Getting involved on the local level
The American Chestnut Foundation is leading the charge of returning the iconic tree to its native range from its Merrimon Avenue headquarters. To support the restoration, you can join the foundation’s NC and SC chapter.
To learn more about the tree and the foundation’s mission to rescue it, you can watch its documentary film (which features the Queen of Country, Dolly Parton), or join the monthly virtual Chestnut Chats.
Bonus: Foundation members can participate in the popular annual Wild-Type American Chestnut Seed Sale happening Tuesday, March 17.
