Mission

The Sugar Pine Foundation is working to restore the natural regeneration of sugar pines and other white pines, since the rate of natural white pine regeneration cannot keep up with the pace of blister rust die-off. 

Stewardship

In carrying out its mission, the Sugar Pine Foundation engages and educates the community in forest stewardship.

We also conduct scientific studies to gather data on the effect of white pine blister rust on the mixed-conifer ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada.

"The Seedling" is a movie depicting 
our white pine restoration efforts.

Restoration

About 3-5% of sugar and western white pines have a natural genetic resistance to blister rust. Because the only way to ensure healthy white pine populations in the future is to plant resistant trees now, the Sugar Pine Foundation is working to restore white pines by:

1) Identifying blister rust resistant trees

2) Harvesting their seed and

3) Planting their rust-resistant progeny

To date, the Sugar Pine Foundation has found 64 proven resistant "seed trees" in the Tahoe region.  Their progeny will be the healthy forests of the future!  Visit Planting to see how many we've planted!

Restoring white pines has many long-term benefits for wildlife, watershed health and the local economy - not to mention future generations of nature-lovers and recreationalists!