Sugar Pine Foundation

The Sugar Pine Foundation began in 2004 with one man’s passion to bring back the sugar pine population in the Sierras. Sugar pines and all white pines are being decimated by a non-native invasive fungus called blister rust. Every year, over 1,000 volunteers plant about 10,000 seedlings that are the progeny of rust resistant trees.  Since 2008, we have planted over 2,400 acres with over 137,000 sugar pines and other native trees to maintain the legacy of Tahoe’s healthy, beautiful forests and watersheds.

At the basic level, we plant white pine seedlings to reinvigorate our forests, to provide much needed genetic variation in our forest makeup and provide homes and ecosystems for our wildlife.  But our work is much more than this, we believe there is a need to educate people and allow them to experience participating in their environment as a part of nature.  Planting one little seedling is a direct and tangible way to make that connection and make a difference. This can be very empowering, especially for children. By bringing our youth and our community closer to nature through tree planting, we are also planting the seeds of stewardship for a healthier future for people and the planet.

“We really appreciate you teaching us how to plant trees.  My favorite part was doing the sugar pine dance, but I also loved just feeling the soft dirt.” -Amalia V, 2014