For centuries, the American chestnut was common throughout the central Appalachians. The tree was special not just for its grand size and beauty but for its consistently heavy nut crop and its useful timber. In 1904 a fungus began attacking the trees and spread quickly, leaving dead tree stems behind. By 1950 the most plentiful tree over nine million acres was virtually extinct -- almost every single one of them a victim of the blight.

But blight-resistant breeds are being developed, and the chestnut is expected to begin its comeback. Much of this important work is being done by scientists and staff associated with The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF). You can learn more about them and their work by visiting www.acf.org.

AEP has committed to help restore this magnificent tree to its former glory by helping TACF. In executing a Forest Management Partnership Agreement, AEP and TACF pledged to develop projects to promote restoration of the American chestnut. For example, AEP is making its land available for planting chestnut seedlings and for future nursery sites. This is intended to help accelerate the number of seedlings that will be available for planting to restore the chestnut throughout the eastern U.S.

TACF has two research farms in Meadowview VA, located in AEP's Virginia service area. At the Meadowview farms TACF is cross breeding trees with the goal of developing a species of American chestnut which is resistant to the blight. Nuts produced from trees, which were crossbred for years to make them more blight resistant, are currently being planted on these nursery farms. The trees that grow from these nuts will be the nut producers for the future American chestnut forests planted in the eastern United States.