西弗吉尼亚州长宣布保护克莱门茨苗圃历史性栗树，Nscale承担全部费用
州长帕特里克·莫里西（Patrick Morrisey）10月10日发表声明，宣布州政府将保护梅森县原克莱门茨州立苗圃（Clements State Tree Nursery）内的历史性美洲栗树与金栗树（chinquapin），并已制定完整的保护计划。
莫里西在声明中说：“我认识到原克莱门茨州立苗圃栗树与金栗树的历史与生态重要性，致力于确保它们的保护。”（"I recognize the historical and ecological importance of chestnut and chinquapin trees at the former Clements State Tree Nursery and am committed to ensuring their preservation."）
10月5日，美国栗树基金会（The American Chestnut Foundation）、西弗吉尼亚州自然资源部与州农业部联合完成评估，保护计划随之出炉。
原克莱门茨苗圃因长期亏损，于2021年5月被州林业部关闭，此后一直未被扰动。自2023年起，先是Fidelis、如今是Nscale公司持有该地块，采集种子与树苗的通道始终畅通无阻。
美国栗树基金会、自然资源部与林业部已采取措施保存这些树木的基因谱系：在州有土地上建立了多个两英亩的林分，另用嫁接苗与实生苗建立了两个试验地块。
根据保护计划，现有的树木将被移栽到地块内更适宜的环境中，可能作为植物园或景观绿化的一部分。这项工作定于2027年末树木休眠期进行，由专业树艺师全程监督。这些树木将继续开放，供未来采集种子与树苗。Nscale公司将承担保护与移栽的全部费用，纳税人无需出资一分钱。
美洲栗树曾是北美东部森林的优势树种，20世纪初传入的栗疫病在几十年内几乎将其灭绝。如今，美国栗树基金会等机构正通过选育抗病品种、建立基因保存林分，推动这一标志性树种回归阿巴拉契亚山林。
West Virginia governor announces preservation plan for historic chestnut and chinquapin trees at former Clements nursery
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Patrick Morrisey on Oct. 10 issued a statement announcing that the state will preserve the historic American chestnut and chinquapin trees at the former Clements State Tree Nursery in Mason County, with a formal preservation plan now in place.
"I recognize the historical and ecological importance of chestnut and chinquapin trees at the former Clements State Tree Nursery and am committed to ensuring their preservation," Morrisey said.
Following an Oct. 5 assessment involving The American Chestnut Foundation, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, a plan is now in place to protect these trees and preserve their genetic lineage.
The former nursery was closed by the West Virginia Division of Forestry in May 2021 due to sustained financial losses and has remained undisturbed since. Since 2023 — first under Fidelis and now under Nscale — access to the property for seed and sapling harvesting has continued uninterrupted.
The American Chestnut Foundation, the Division of Natural Resources, and the Division of Forestry have already taken steps to preserve the trees' genetic lineage, establishing multiple two-acre stands on state land along with two additional plots using grafts and seedlings.
Under the preservation plan, the existing trees will be relocated to a more suitable environment within the property, potentially as part of an arboretum or integrated landscaping. That work is scheduled for late 2027, during the trees' dormant season, under professional arborist supervision. The trees will remain accessible for future seed and sapling harvesting. Nscale will cover the full cost of the preservation and relocation efforts, with no expense to West Virginia taxpayers.
The American chestnut was once a dominant tree of eastern North American forests before chestnut blight nearly wiped it out in the early 20th century. Organizations such as the American Chestnut Foundation are now breeding blight-resistant varieties and establishing genetic preservation stands to bring the iconic species back to the Appalachian woods.
图片来源：David J. Stang 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0（Wikimedia Commons）
