Sugarpine Foundation

We are dedicated to restoring sugar pines and other white pines in the Lake Tahoe region and beyond. By educating and involving local volunteers of all ages in hands-on forest stewardship, we are conserving these important native species for future generations to enjoy.

We search for pines resistant to blister rust and climb them to collect their cones. The cones go the US Forest Service to test for major gene resistance to blister rust. Each year, we harvest more cones from resistant trees so we can plant the next generation. Every spring and fall, hundreds of community volunteers and schoolchildren help us with plantings. Our plantings, events, and educational outreach inspire environmental stewardship throughout the community. As our seedlings grow, we regularly monitor their health to help inform future restoration programs.