Bringing back a forest giant

BLOOMING GROVE, PA — There will be a presentation on the effort to bring back the American chestnut at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 25 at the Pike County Conservation District, just north of the intersection of Route 402 and I-84.

The American chestnut, which grew to heights of 150 feet with diameters up to 10 feet, was once the dominant forest tree in many areas of the region prior to 1910, when an Asian blight swept through the chestnut population. The loss of the tree had a devastating impact on the forest ecology, timber value and wildlife populations of the region. The presentation will cover the history of the blight, characteristics of the tree, wildlife interactions and the program the American Chestnut Foundation scientists have created to bring back the tree throughout its range, including local efforts in Pike County to locate and include local trees in the breeding program.

For more information call 570/857-1072 or 226-8220.