About Us
Our Mission
Our mission is to bring about the restoration of the American chestnut tree as a prominent part of Georgia forests.
The Georgia Chapter was founded to bring about the restoration of the American chestnut tree as a prominent part of Georgia forests by assisting the national foundation in its propagation efforts, by promoting public awareness through education and by supporting the scientific research efforts of TACF directed at restoring American chestnuts.
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
President – Dr. Martin Cipollini
Vice President – Jack Rogers
Secretary – Scott Laseter
Treasurer – Vince Payne
Science Coordinator – Dr. Martin Cipollini
Honorary Director – Mary Belle Price (posthumously)
Additional Board Members
Dr. Scott Merkle
Ana Metaxas
Dr. Caitlin Conn
Kylie Stover
David Keehn
Brian Williams
James Wentworth
Partnerships
The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) and the Georgia Chapter (GaTACF) seek out partners that will not only help further its chestnut restoration program but also bring attention to the importance of the chestnut in American history. These partners include major universities, private foundations and businesses, as well as state and federal government agencies. With plantings at high-profile sites such as the Carter Center, Callaway Gardens Preserve, and the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum Project, GaTACF has been able to attract significant support from many partners throughout Georgia.
Each of our partners offers a unique perspective on chestnut restoration and gives GaTACF the best possible opportunity to be successful in its efforts to bring the American chestnut back to the forests of Georgia.
Georgia TACF Partner Organizations
- Atlanta History Center
- Berry College
- Bittersweet Gardens
- Bottletree Bees
- Byron Herbert Reece Farm & Heritage Center
- Carter Center
- Charlane Woodlands & Preserve
- Cloudland Vineyards + Winery
- Dalton State College
- Douglas County – Friends of The American Chestnut
- Elachee Nature Science Center
- Friends of Smithgall Woods State Park
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources
- Georgia State Parks
- Georgia Forestry Commission
- Georgia Governor’s Mansion
- Georgia Piedmont Land Trust
- Georgia State Botanical Garden
- Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center
- Kennesaw State University (Research Farm)
- Kistner Center
- North Georgia Canopy Tours
- Pettit Environmental Center
- Rabun Gap Nacoochee School
- Reinhardt University
- Rising Fawn Gardens
- Runnin’ Wild Farms
- Smith-Gilbert Gardens
- The Blueberry Farm
- The Callaway Gardens Preserve
- The Carter Center
- Cherokee County Recreation & Parks
- Sandy Creek Nature Center
- The University of Georgia (UGA) Horticultural Farm
- The UGA Mountain Research & Education Center (GMREC)
- The UGA Warnell School of Forestry
- The Southern Company (Georgia Power)
- Toccoa Falls College
- Trees Atlanta and the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum
- University of North Georgia
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S.D.A. Forest Service
- Vogel State Park
- Young Harris College
FOR OUTSTANDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT WE WISH TO THANK
- Ailene Phillips Trust
- Dr. Austin Flint
- Berry College
- Eleanor & Tom Ratchford
- Georgia Appalachian Regional Commission
- Georgia State Specialty Crops Grant
- Lumpkin Coalition/Hemlockfest
- Dr. Martin Cipollini & Kathryn Patrick
- Mary Belle Price
- Rome Rotary Clubs
- Temple-Inland Foundation
- Urban & Community Forestry Commission
Georgia Chapter Menu
Georgia Facebook
Just two more days left to pre-register for this Saturday's meeting! Please join us at The Georgia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation Annual Meeting:
www.eventbrite.com/e/georgia-chapter-of-the-american-chestnut-foundation-annual-meeting-tickets-1...
The American Chestnut Foundation Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center Foundation Cloudland Vineyards + Winery
Georgia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation Annual Meeting
www.eventbrite.com
Join us at our annual meeting in Buford on May 2. Please register (free) and pre-order lunch here!0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Board members Caitlin Conn and David Keehn had a great time staffing the GA-TACF outreach table at the Earth Day celebration at Murphey Candler Park in Atlanta last night. Here are some pics...some very colorful Charlie Chestnuts were produced!
To learn more about our program and how you might help with outreach events like this, please attend our May 2 meeting. Details elsewhere on our Facebook page.
The American Chestnut Foundation The Georgia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation
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This is a photo of an American chestnut planted in Rome, GA. Notice how late it is to Ieaf out in comparison with the surrounding trees. This tree is the offspring of two trees, one at Brasstown Bald and one at Fort Mountain, two high elevation sites in GA. High elevation trees leaf out late to avoid frost damage. This demonstrates why we incorporate chestnut trees from multiple sites throughout the native range into our disease resistance breeding program. We need to develop a population of trees capable of growing at highly diverse sites from Mississippi to Maine. To learn more about our program and how you can help, please come to our May 2 meeting in Buford. Details can be found here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/georgia-chapter-of-the-american-chestnut-foundation-annual-meeting-tickets-1...
Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center Foundation The American Chestnut Foundation
Cloudland Vineyards + Winery
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Latest News
GA-TACF Annual Meeting May 2, 2026
The Georgia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation GA-TACF will hold its annual meeting on May 2, starting at 9:30 AM at Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center in Buford, GA. The meeting is open to both chapter members and the general public. Although we...
GA-TACF’s 2nd Annual Chestnutoberfest!
It's that time of year again! Chestnut harvest is just wrapping up in Georgia and our next fun event is Chestnutoberfest on October 25 at River Remedy Brewing, Rome. 1-7 pm (note the brewery's new location). Hope you can join us to have some fun and learn about what...
GA-TACF’s Annual Meeting April 12 2025
The American Chestnut Foundation Georgia Chapter (GA-TACF) Notice of Annual Meeting GA-TACF will hold its annual meeting on April 12, 2025, starting at 10:00 AM at Kennesaw State University (see directions below). Chapter members are invited and encouraged to attend,...