The American Chestnut grows fast and absorbs large amounts of carbon, and a new blight-resistant hybrid of the tree could play a huge role in curbing climate change, according to a new study at Purdue University.  While carbon sequestration is only one part of the climate change puzzle, widespread planting of the new variety sounds like a potentially amazing way to help control greenhouse gas emissions as we transition to a clean energy future.

The study led by Douglass Jacobs, an associate professor of forestry and natural resources, revealed that American Chestnuts grow faster and larger than other hardwood species allowing them to retain more carbon over a shorter period of time.  And since the tree is most often harvested for high-quality hardwood products such as furniture, the carbon would remain trapped in the objects for longer periods of time than wood used for paper.  Ideally we need to look for ways to reduce our consumption of these natural resources, but since some of the industry is likely to persist, pursuing sustainable and responsible practices is critical.

The American Chestnut had virtually disappeared from existence after a severe blight, caused by a fungus, wiped out most of the population along the Eastern seaboard.  Researchers are approaching a successful  cross between some of the surviving trees and a blight-resistant Chinese variety, bringing us closer to a new weapon for the fight against global warming.  While more studies will need to be conducted on the potential of this long-absent tree, it’s future looks promising.

Photo: Jami Dwyer’s Flickr Photostream (creative commons)