The LandTrust has purchased another property off Cauble Farm Road, which adjoins a previous purchase and adds 18 acres to our growing network of conservation lands in this beautiful portion of Rowan County. We have hopes of restoring this property to a forest, and we are even exploring the site’s suitability for reforestation with American chestnuts (Castanea dentate). If the property is found to be suitable, we will work with the American Chestnut Foundation to plant trees that are nearly pure American chestnuts. Ultimately this property will serve as an outdoor learning laboratory for Catawba College studentsand Rowan County residents.
The American chestnut was once the predominant tree of eastern forests, covering more than 200 million acres from Maine to Florida. The blight and fungal infection imported to the United States on Asian trees, resulted in the death of nearly all the trees in the early 20th century. This tree was important both ecologically and economically, providing wildlife habitat as well as timber. Through backcross breeding, the American Chestnut Foundation has created trees that are virtually identical generically to American trees just with blight resistance. We will keep you posted on this effort!