For generations, American chestnut trees fed people and wildlife throughout eastern North America.Tragically, at the turn of the 20th century, ecological disaster struck. A fungal pathogen accidentally introduced from Asia swept through killing entire forests of American chestnuts. For the past three years, volunteers have joined the town arborist to plant wild-type chestnut seedlings in the Brunswick Town Commons as part of an ongoing restoration project. So far, of five dozen chestnut seedlings planted in the Town Commons, about half have survived, a hopeful sign. Globally, 30% - 51% of tree species are threatened with extinction. The chestnuts in the Brunswick Town Commons represent an important effort at biodiversity restoration and at recovering a crucially important tree species in North America — indeed, in the world. ~ Jym St. Pierre, Brunswick Town Commons Committee