Greenwich Land Trust revives plagued American Chestnut trees

Greenwich Land Trust Conservation & Outreach Director Steve Conaway, Ph.D., cuts down an infected American Chestnut tree at GLT's American Chestnut Sanctuary in Greenwich, Conn. Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. In 2014, Greenwich Land Trust planted 400 research seedlings approved by the American Chestnut Foundation in an enclosed area off Burning Tree Road. The species was once a dominant tree of Eastern U.S. forests, but was virtually eradicated by an Asian blight at the turn of the 20th century. Over several generations, the American Chestnut Foundation has propagated trees with qualities of the American Chestnut, but with disease resistance genes found in their Asian counterparts. The breeding project has been largely successful, as most of the trees planted at the American Chestnut Sanctary in Greenwich have been resistant to the disease. less Greenwich Land Trust Conservation & Outreach Director Steve Conaway, Ph.D., cuts down an infected American Chestnut tree at GLT's American Chestnut Sanctuary in Greenwich, Conn. Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. In ... more Photo: Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media Photo: Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Greenwich Land Trust revives plagued American Chestnut trees 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

The Greenwich Land Trust performed seasonal maintenance on its American Chestnut Sanctuary in the backcountry of Greenwich on Thursday.

In 2014, Greenwich Land Trust planted 400 research seedlings approved by the American Chestnut Foundation in an enclosed sanctuary off of Burning Tree Road.

The species was once a dominant tree of Eastern U.S. forests, but was virtually eradicated by an Asian blight at the turn of the 20th century.

Over several generations, the American Chestnut Foundation has propagated trees with qualities of the American Chestnut, but with disease resistance genes found in their Asian counterparts.

The breeding project has been largely successful, as most of the trees planted at the American Chestnut Sanctuary in Greenwich have been resistant to the disease.