We’re thrilled to share that blight-resistant Ozark chinquapin seeds and trees are now a reality, thanks to nearly two decades of dedicated work by the Ozark Chinquapin Foundation (OCF) and its valued Restoration Partners.

This historic breakthrough—verified by independent laboratory testing—is the result of 19 years of intensive lab and field research. It would not have been possible without the committed support of the LAD Foundation-Pioneer Forest, Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation, Conservation Federation of Missouri, Missouri Department of Conservation, Arkansas Forestry, State Parks in Arkansas and Missouri, U.S. Forest Service, Missouri Botanical Garden, the Cherokee Nation, and four different State Universities.

Since 2019, OCF has been actively planting blight-resistant Ozark chinquapins in restoration plots throughout the species’ historic range—where it has been absent for over 70 years. To date, more than 23,000 blight-resistant nuts and trees have been distributed for restoration on lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service (Ozark National Scenic Riverways), Arkansas Forestry Commission, The Nature Conservancy, Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, US Army Corps of Engineers, as well as OCF Members, Private Landowners and Supporters.

This is a modern-day conservation success story—one we can all take pride in. It’s about more than just a tree; it’s about restoring a vital piece of our forest heritage for wildlife and for future generations.