Resurrecting the American Chestnut
The American Chestnut tree once made up nearly a quarter of all the trees in the Eastern forests. It grew exceptionally tall, and its wood helped build the backbone of our young nation.
Tragically, after an Asian tree disease known as Chestnut Blight was brought to America in the early 1900s, the tree was completely wiped out. It wasn't long before all that remained were rotting stumps and shoots that would succumb to the disease soon after sprouting.
But not everyone has given up on the Chestnut just yet. Coordinated efforts are being made in laboratories, greenhouses, and tree-fields across the country to revive the lost giant.
In something straight out of a science-fiction movie, researchers are attempting to genetically engineer the Chestnut DNA to create a blight-resistant tree and raise the extinct timber from the dead. Thousands of people are involved in funding, researching, experimenting, and planting in this large-scale rescue operation.
Blight resistant strands of Chestnut are showing progress and may soon be a reality. For the time being, however, American Chestnut hardwood is only available as reclaimed timber.