The American chestnut once dominated portions of the eastern U.S. forests, from Maine to Mississippi. Numbering in the billions, the tree was one of the tallest and fastest growing in those regions. Pollinators depended on the flowers, and wildlife, livestock, and people relied on its nutritious nut. Tall and fast-growing, the tree’s wood was rot-resistant and straight-grained, making it an excellent source of lumber.

In the late 1800s, a deadly blight, Cryphonectria parasitica, was inadvertently imported to the U.S. from Asia as global horticultural trade increased. The American chestnut had no resistance, and in fewer than 50 years, the fungus had eliminated it as a mature forest tree, rendering it functionally extinct.

CLEAR DAY THUNDER: Rescuing the American Chestnut, features interviews with scientists, volunteers, and luminaries. Best-selling author Barbara Kingsolver, Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell, country music legend Dolly Parton, and former President Jimmy Carter are just a few of the well-known figures committed to this historic conservation effort.