American chestnut

the long version

"The American chestnut was one of America's most common, valued, and beloved trees - a "perfect tree" that ruled the forests from Georgia to Maine. But in the early twentieth century, an exotic plague swept through the chestnut forests with catastrophic force. Within forty years, the blight had killed some four billion trees and left the species teetering on the brink of extinction. It was one of the worst ecological blows to North America since the Ice Age - and one most experts considered irreversible." "In American Chestnut, Susan Freinkel tells the dramatic story of the stubborn band of optimists who have refused to let this cultural icon go. In a compelling weave of history, science, and personal observation, Freinkel relates their quest to save the tree through methods that range from classical plant breeding to cutting-edge gene technology. But the heart of her story is the cast of unconventional characters who have fought for a century to bring the tree back, undeterred by setbacks or skeptics, fueled by their dreams of restored forests and their powerful affinity for a fellow species. Their efforts offer hope and inspiration in an era in which a plant or animal species passes into oblivion every twenty minutes."--Jacket.