Press Release | April 30, 2025
Introducing the 1,000 Chestnut Challenge
New York Restoration Project is proud to partner with longtime American chestnut conservationist Bart Chezar and The American Chestnut Foundation to help distribute American chestnut saplings throughout the five boroughs. Called the 1,000 Chestnut Challenge, the project’s goal is to eventually establish 1,000 thriving American chestnut trees throughout our local urban tree canopy with the help of committed volunteers.
The American chestnut was one of the most abundant and productive trees in North America before the emergence of the chestnut blight: a fungal disease that kills the trees’ inner bark, which can prevent the flow of nutrients and water to the leaves, flowers, and stems. Scientists estimate there were roughly four billion chestnut trees in the Eastern United States before the blight hit in the early twentieth century, making its disappearance a critical loss for regional forest ecosystems.
With the 1,000 Chestnut Challenge, NYRP seeks partner individuals and institutions to plant and monitor hybrid American chestnut seedlings as part of a long-term community science experiment. The different seeds have a range of resistance to the chestnut blight, and the monitoring data we collect will help identify resistant trees to collect seeds from in the future. This data will also help inform larger restoration efforts lead by The American Chestnut Foundation.
The return of the American chestnut to New York City is a deeply collaborative effort, and we are grateful for the invaluable partnership of NYC Parks, The American Chestnut Foundation, Bart Chezar, Green-Wood Cemetery, and the Prospect Park Alliance.