Accomplishments

Over the past decades, the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation of Canada has delivered large-scale restoration projects and national leadership in the conservation of whitebark and limber pine ecosystems in Canada. Our work spans restoration, stewardship, research, best management, education, and community engagement, turning science into action across high-elevation landscapes.

Our impact includes:

Large-scale planting of disease-resistant seedlings and protection of critical habitat
Cone harvests, seed collection, and genetic conservation programs
Development of best management practices, restoration tools, and field protocols
Leadership in national and regional recovery planning
Training and capacity-building for practitioners, partners, and land managers
Indigenous and community partnerships grounded in stewardship and reciprocity
Public education, outreach, and youth engagement
Science-based monitoring, research collaboration, and adaptive management
Convening cross-sector partners to align conservation at landscape scale
Building long-term systems for climate resilience and ecosystem recovery

2025 Accomplishments

In 2025, momentum continued across every area of our work. A rare mast year in British Columbia created a major opportunity for large-scale restoration, and we responded with our most ambitious season yet! Record cone collection, the largest planting effort in our history, and our biggest budget to date reflect both the urgency of protecting whitebark and limber pine and the growing strength of our organization.

With the support of dedicated staff, an engaged volunteer Board, trusted contractors, committed partners, and our members, we expanded restoration efforts across western Canada while continuing to build long-term organizational capacity.

Together, these efforts are helping secure the future of whitebark and limber pine, iconic high-elevation species that support biodiversity, regulate mountain water systems, and strengthen the resilience of mountain ecosystems.

170,000+ Disease-Resistant Seedlings Planted

In 2025, over 170,000 disease-resistant seedlings were planted across suitable high-elevation ecosystems in British Columbia and Alberta. Planting focused on burn areas, disturbed sites, and favorable microhabitats where restoration efforts can have the greatest ecological impact.

160 Hectares Restored

Restoration work focused on recovering five-needle pine ecosystems across disturbed areas, burn sites, and other high-value habitats in British Columbia and Alberta. Activities included planting disease-resistant seedlings, thinning competing vegetation, treating mountain pine beetle infestations, and improving conditions that support long-term ecosystem resilience. 160 hectares restored is over 300 football fields worth of improved and restored habitat in Canada!

34,500 Cones Collected

British Columbia experienced its first mast year in nearly a decade, creating a rare opportunity to collect cones from plus and elite whitebark pine trees. Cone harvesting was carefully managed to ensure wildlife food sources remained available while strengthening seed banks and expanding future restoration capacity. The resulting seeds will sustain restoration efforts for years to come and support increasing our annual targets and collaborations with partners.

3,000+ Trees Health Assessed

Whitebark pine health was monitored across sites in British Columbia and Alberta. Assessments tracked the impacts of white pine blister rust, mountain pine beetle, and other emerging forest health threats, helping guide management decisions and future restoration efforts.

2024 Accomplishments

In 2024, WPEFC made significant strides in restoration, research, outreach, and organizational growth. Across British Columbia and Alberta, our teams worked to restore whitebark and limber pine ecosystems, advance scientific understanding, and engage communities in conservation efforts.

British Columbia Highlights

55,000 seedlings planted – Restoration work took place across three new locations, in collaboration with BC Parks.
2,000 cones collected – Including 1,600 Whitebark Pine cones and 200 Limber Pine cones, marking the first Limber Pine collection in BC in over five years.
Partnerships strengthened – Worked with two First Nation crews and government employees from the Ministry of Forests and BC Parks.
Parks Canada support – Assisted in planting an additional 7,700 seedlings to boost restoration outcomes.

Alberta Highlights

20,000 disease-resistant seedlings planted – Whitebark and Limber Pine plantings advanced restoration across multiple sites.
3,900 cones collected – Strengthening seed banks for future planting and research.
Engaged over 250 participants – Through workshops, educational programs, and volunteer activities.
Large-scale planning and monitoring – Completed a spatial restoration plan for ~1 million hectares in southern Alberta and began planning for an additional 2 million hectares in the north.
Research advances – Re-measured 108 monitoring plots and submitted 15 new selections for disease resistance testing; academic partnerships progressed studies in disease resistance genomics and adaptive diversity.

Organizational Growth

Leadership and staffing – Recruited the first full-time Executive Director and hired two restoration field staff.
Funding and efficiency – Secured new funding and streamlined operations to enhance organizational capacity.
Active project funds – 18 project funds supported ongoing restoration, conservation, and recovery initiatives.

Key Outcomes

132 hectares restored
82,700 seedlings planted
5,900 cones collected
300+ trees assessed for health

These achievements underscore WPEFC’s commitment to advancing Whitebark and Limber Pine conservation across Canada, combining on-the-ground restoration, research, and community engagement.

Completed Projects

Published Methods for Surveying and Monitoring Whitebark Pine for Blister Rust Infection and Damage. The methods were taught at a landmark two-day workshop in West Yellowstone in 2004, which resulted in a number of regional survey efforts. View Sampling & Monitor Methods.
Funded three whitebark pine restoration projects involving cone collecting and seedling production on the Clearwater and Flathead national forests.
Co-sponsored the major conference “Whitebark Pine: a Pacific Coast perspective” in 2006, which resulted in a published proceedings in 2007. View the View the report.
The WPEF engaged in dialogue with the Senate Interior Appropriations Committee, which resulted in a productive dialogue with the US Forest Service on the need for funding whitebark pine restoration, and led to the establishment of the Forest Health Protection Whitebark Pine Restoration Fund.
Organized the “The High Five Symposium: the future of high-elevation, five-needle white pines in western North America” in 2010, which was attended by over 200 people and resulted in a widely-cited proceedings published in 2011. View the report.
Under a memorandum of understanding, partnered with the US Forest Service Forest Health Protection to feature projects funded by the USFS Whitebark Pine Restoration Fund. “Restoring Whitebark Pine: one project at a time” is accessible through the WPEF website. View WPEF Database.
Established a Canadian chapter of the foundation, Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation Canada, to ensure range-wide cooperation on education, research and restoration of these ecosystems. Check them out at whitebarkpine.ca.