Survey of Chestnuts in the Wild
The existence of the American Chestnut tree in Canada is widespread. Trees have been reported from coast to coast (B.C. to Nova Scotia) and as far north as Thunder Bay, Ontario.
However, the traditional range of the tree is in what is know as the Carolinian zone of Southern
Ontario.
Part 1 - The latest survey analysis of surviving American Chestnuts in Southwestern Ontario (Part 1) – CCC Newsletter Sept. 2017
In the early 1900’s, a Chestnut blight that arrived from Asia, began to wipe out the American Chestnut trees in North America. The American Chestnut tree was an important part of the tree canopy in Southwestern Ontario (the most northern limit of its native range.) Although up to 2,000,000 trees may have once occupied the area, researchers in the labs of Drs. Greg Boland and Brian Husband, from the University of Guelph, (S. Van Drunen et. al.) compared the results of a 2014-2015 survey of trees to an inaugural survey conducted in 2001-2002 by Tindall et al and reported on in 2004.
In the analysis of this comparison, published this summer in the Journal Forest Ecology and Management, the U of G team reported finding more individual specimens of American chestnut in the province than expected. Some 600 trees from the first survey as well as 100 new ones were located. Looking at tree size, reproduction and health status of the trees, the analysis concludes that the population of surviving American Chestnuts in the wild continues to decline as trees become isolated and unable to reproduce. The paper also identifies the need to increased production of new seedlings in natural populations to stem this continuing decline.
- An e-copy of this paper may be found under the Resources Tab / Document Archive “Population dynamics and the influence of blight on American chestnut at its northern range limit: Lessons for conservation”
- Below find two media summaries of the findings: University of Guelph News – https://news.uoguelph.ca/2017/08/ontarios-chestnut-trees- frozen-time-u-g-study-finds/
Chestnut Council members, Tim Casson (left), John Hill beside two trees in Brant County
Part 2 – Survey of Chestnuts in the wild - CCC Newsletter – March 2017
So how many wild American Chestnuts are there in southern Ontario? – The provincial data base maintained by Stephen Van Drunen at the University of Guelph has approximately 1200 geo referenced trees. (not all alive) The actual number of living trees has been estimated to be as high as 2,000 trees.
Where are they? – A review of the data base provides the following information.
Over 50 % of the live trees in the wild are found in Haldimand-Norfolk
Trees found alive by County
From – Population dynamics and the influence of blight on American chestnut at 2 its northern range limit: Lessons for conservation- Van Drunen et. al 201
American Chestnuts in the Wild – you can help
The University of Guelph, department of Environmental Sciences maintains the data base of American Chestnuts in the wild. You can help.
Do you know the location of an American Chestnut tree in the wild?
If so, see the Resources tab on the CCC home page and in the drop down menu find Reporting a Chestnut. Fill out the form and add your find to the data base.