The natural resource stewardship program is the principle means through which the national park service (NPS) evaluates and improves the health of watersheds, landscapes, and marine and coastal…

The natural resource stewardship program is the principle means through which the national park service (NPS) evaluates and improves the health of watersheds, landscapes, and marine and coastal resources, sustains biological communities on the lands and waters in parks, and actively endeavors to improve the resiliency of these natural resources and adapt them to the effects of climate change. To carry out and further this stewardship responsibility, NPS implements programs that encompass a broad range of research, operational, and educational activities by utilizing park personnel and contractor support or cooperative agreements. This project will create a partnership program between the american chestnut foundation (recipient) and the NPS to RE-establish american chestnut as a functional component of hardwood forests to promote climate resiliency at cuyahoga valley national park (cvnp). Project objectives are to increase production and availability of blight-resistant varieties of american chestnut, including a hybrid comprised of american and asian chestnuts and the darling 58 variety make those blight-resistant varieties available for restoration plantings at cvnp plant blight-resistant american chestnuts at selected sites within their historic range within the boundaries of cvnp and engage youth and community volunteers in resource stewardship at cvnp, including restoration plantings of blight-resistant american chestnuts at selected sites within the boundaries of cvnp. Beneficiaries include the general public.