UMaine mentioned in BDN article on restoring American chestnut trees
The University of Maine was mentioned in a Bangor Daily News article about Mainers working to bring back the American chestnut tree. Glen Rea, a 73-year-old retired stockbroker from Bangor who studied forestry at UMaine before switching careers, is the northern breeding coordinator for the Maine Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation. The organization is part of a national effort to restore American chestnut trees, which were nearly wiped out a century ago by the accidental introduction of the chestnut blight, according to the article. Few trees survived the blight, and last summer UMaine researchers found the tallest American chestnut in North America in a forest in Lovell, near the New Hampshire border, the article states. The discovery of the 115-foot tall tree was thrilling to the people who are trying to bring back the species, Rea said. Rea and other members of the foundation’s local chapter said they are glad younger scientists and student foresters are involved in the restoration effort, including those from UMaine.