Appalachian Trail MEGA-Transect Project

The Chestnut Project is part of a larger A.T. MEGA-Transect partnership initiated during a symposium convened by ATC in November, 2006. A transect, or strip of ground along which ecological measurements are made at regular intervals, is a method of collecting data where it is impractical to study the entire area. The prefix MEGA- means great or large, and has the double meaning of referring to the span of the A.T. from Maine (ME) to Georgia (GA). The MEGA-Transect seeks to engage citizen scientists in monitoring key indicators of environmental health, and to use new and existing data to increase understanding of environmental issues impacting both the A.T. and the larger Appalachian region. With those resources, the ATC hopes to use the MEGA-Transect program to "inform and engage the American public, decision-makers and stakeholder organizations to manage and protect the A.T. environment, attain the goals of protecting existing natural resources and environmental legislation, and to make sound decisions for positive change" (Dufour and Crisfield, 2008)

For a great introduction to the project, please take a minute to look over articles on the Mega-Transect project which were published in the Fall 2008 issue of the Journal of The American Chestnut Foundation included as the link below.

Resources for Chestnut Data Collectors