© 2026 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The Ghost Tree: Bringing Back the American Chestnut

Season 2 Episode 6 | 8m 15s

Billions of American chestnut trees once shaped life in Appalachia, but a foreign fungus erased them in a matter of decades. Today, only sickly sprouts remain — ghosts of a vanished ecosystem. Sara Fern Fitzsimmons and The American Chestnut Foundation are racing to breed resistance and restore the tree's ecological role. It’s slow, painstaking work — but it may hold the key to revival.

Extras
Explore the life and legacy of notable Black scholar and civil rights pioneer W.E.B. Du Bois.
Sister Monica Joan readies herself to say goodbye to her home — Poplar.
Rosalind and Cyril pay Sister Monica Joan a visit.
Fireflies are a captivating phenomenon to witness on the prairie.
Nature’s rhythms; from fireflies flashing to cicadas emerging after years underground.
Fred expresses his concerns about Sister Monica Joan declining health.
Miss Higgins offers a positive outlook on the changes they're about to face.
Trixie shares her passions for midwifery as the maternity home gets ready to close its doors.
Wildlife are here for one reason: lunch!
From beavers in wetlands to crayfish in streams, aquatic systems shape the prairies.
Latest Episodes
All
  • All
  • Human Footprint Season 2
  • Human Footprint Season 1
Shane meets species on the brink of oblivion, and the people who won’t let them slip away.
A journey down the Colorado River reveals the ripple effects of humanity’s quest to conquer water.
Shane investigates the future of bees, from honey bees to wild native species, in a changing world.
From runway to throwaway, Shane suits up to discover the global impact of our fashion addiction.
We enlist allies from nature to fight in our battles. But is the enemy of an enemy always a friend?
Shane goes on a global journey to discover how supermarkets have reshaped our lives and our planet.
Shane explores the Human Footprint of cotton, from ancient rocks to 21st-century politics.
Shane explores three thriving urban species and envisions a wilder future for our cities.
Shane meets five species that made allies of humans.
Shane’s love of dogs turns to awe as he discovers their profound impacts on humans.