Bringing Back the American Chestnut Tree

August 27, 2024
12:00pm - 1:00pm

Bringing Back the American Chestnut to the Appalachian Species Corridor.

Chestnut trees used to be abundant in the Appalachian region until a blight wiped them out at the turn of the 20th century. Now, determined growers like Susan Thompson, a graduate student at Shepherd University, are part of an effort to return the trees using hybrid saplings. They’re combining the American chestnut with the Chinese variant, which is a little bit more sturdy. Susan will discuss her research and work with this iconic tree, once an Appalachian keystone species whose story is tied closely to the environmental health of the region. Susan is also coordinating a project to establish a cadre of citizen scientists to work together toward bringing back the wild American chestnut.  Opportunities are available to join in making short videos for outreach efforts on TikTok and other social media.

Susan Thompson is an environmental activist and attorney living in Falling Waters, West Va. She is completing her MA thesis for the Center of Appalachian Studies and Communities at Shepherd University — her research focuses on bringing back the American chestnut tree, once a keynote species in the region, at a time when abundant forests are critical to the survival of species fleeing temperature increases into the Appalachian Mountain escape corridor. Thompson has presented at environmental conferences and is currently working with Professor of Environmental Studies Dr. Brooke Comer on her chestnut resiliency projects testing mycelium symbiosis with American chestnuts at Shepherd‘s University’s Tabler Farm and on a beautiful hillside 1000’ above sea level in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.

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