Chestnut Trees Return To Governors Island (U.S. Department of the Interior)

Officials gather for a Dec. 11 event to plant an American Chestnut tree sapling near Castle Williams at Governors Island National Monument. (From left, Brent Wahlquist, director of the Office of Surface Mining; Linda Neal, superintendent of Governors Island National Monument; Christine Alfsen Norodom, United Nations; and Marshal Case; president and CEO of The American Chestnut Foundation.)

Representatives of the National Park Service, the Office of Surface Mining and the United Nations came together on Dec. 11 to plant five American chestnut trees on Governors Island. The event marked OSM's commitment to plant 38 million trees over the next three years through its Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative. A public-private partnership, ARRI is planting the trees in support of the United Nations' “Seven Billion Tree” campaign.

“Four hundred years ago Native Americans and Dutch settlers referred to this island as ‘Nut’ island because of the large number of nut trees,” said Linda Neal, superintendent of Governors Island.” There were so many that the Dutch set up a sawmill here, which produced timber for the first cabins in Manhattan. The trees planted here today will reflect a connection to the island's rich history while also symbolizing its future as an oasis for respite and renewal. So it is fitting that this park was chosen as the New York City venue for this tree-planting campaign.”

The American chestnut once ranged from Maine to Georgia. But a blight first observed in 1904 at New York City’s Bronx Zoo destroyed – in a scant 50 years – nearly 4 billion trees.

“The trees that are being planted under ARRI are high-value, native hardwoods, which includes the American chestnut thanks to The American Chestnut Foundation,” OSM director Brent Wahlquist said

TCAF's years of research and careful breeding have led to blight-resistant saplings, which cost about $10,000 each. It donated the five saplings for the tree-planting event on Governors Island.

“Governors Island is a wonderful place for us to be represented,” said Marshal Case, president and CEO of TACF. “So much of what ARRI is doing revolves around creating a healthier planet and improving overall forest health. This planting fits right in with our goals and we’re proud to be in such illustrious company and Governors Island is a fitting destination for the return of the American chestnut to New York City.”