There was a crime pays and botany doesnt podcast 2 weeks ago with an interesting interview with someone from this project. http://www.esf.edu/chestnut/ The group is mentioned in the first comment of the first link you posted from 2017, so people might be interested in a more recent update.

The interviewer is not for everyone but I thought it was pretty good discussion. https://www.spreaker.com/user/16676611/restoring-the-america...

Big fan of crime pays but botany doesn't. I'll need to give that podcast a listen, thanks!