American Chestnut Revival on A Scientist’s Land In Maine

Send us Fan Mail A celebrated naturalist’s Maine hillside holds thousands of wild American chestnuts thriving across three generations, challenging the claim that the species cannot return without genetic engineering. We explore the history of blight, restoration strategies, climate shifts, and why evidence from the field matters. • origins of the blight and early containment attempts • limits of Chinese hybrid chestnuts in forest settings • selective breeding for American traits with blight tolerance • push for GE chestnuts and its one-gene promise • documented natural resurgence on Bernd Heinrich’s land • seed dispersal by birds and squirrels across miles • published mapping, burr counts, and multi‑generation stands • climate change moving the chestnut range north • reports of wild chestnuts in gap openings across the Northeast • missteps and credibility issues in GE field trials • how to see the documentary and share chestnut sightings Premieres December 4 at thewildamericanchestnut.org. “People can go there, sign up for the movie, and share your chestnut story.” Support the show