12:00pm to 1:00pm |
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Learn at Lunch: the great american chestnut
(Special Event)
Learn at Lunch
Wednesday January 10, 2018 12:00-1:00 p.m.
The Great American Chestnut and Efforts of Restoration with Carl Absher, ISA Master Arborist and Board member of the VA Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation
The American chestnut (Castenea dentata) was the most common keystone species in the Appalachian region from the time of European settlement until the 20th century. A fungus introduced to the country just after the turn of the century (Cryphonectria parisitca) wiped out as many as 4,000,000,000 in just 50 years. Dedicated scientists and an army of volunteers are now testing the performance of resistant trees using the few flowering surviving American chestnuts, advanced breeding techniques, biotechnology, and bio-controls to return this iconic tree to our eastern forests. This presentation will offer an overview of the history and demise of the American chestnut, and a summary of the status of the restoration effort. More information...
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