Once Wiped Out by Blight, Thousands of American Chestnut Trees are Thriving on Biologist’s Land in Maine
Good News Network • • health
Key Points:
- Wild American chestnut trees, long considered "functionally extinct," are thriving in the forests of Maine, challenging previous beliefs about their disappearance and the necessity of genetic engineering for their restoration.
- Dr. Bernd Heinrich, a biologist and author, has documented thousands of naturally growing chestnut trees on his land, with no signs of blight, indicating potential natural blight resistance.
- Heinrich’s team, including University of Vermont students, has mapped over a thousand chestnut trees across three generations, revealing successful natural regeneration and a northward shift in the species' range due to climate change.
- The discovery undermines biotech-based restoration efforts, highlighted by The American Chestnut Foundation’s recent withdrawal of support for a genetically engineered chest
