10/28/2026
How sad and for a data center to boot 🙃
American chestnut trees once dominated the eastern forests, providing essential food and shelter for wildlife. The arrival of a deadly fungus in the early 1900s wiped out billions, leaving only a few resilient survivors.
Efforts to restore these majestic trees have been ongoing for decades. Researchers have painstakingly collected seeds from the rare survivors and bred trees that might withstand the blight.
In Mason County, West Virginia, at the Clements State Tree Nursery, around 200 chestnuts grown from these resilient genes face a new threat. Advocates are raising alarms as plans emerge to clear this historic grove for a data center by November 1, 2026.
These trees represent more than just a species; they are a testament to nature's resilience and the efforts to heal what was lost.
