The Fate of High-Elevation Forests in a Changing World: Ecology and Management of Western 5-Needle Pines

South Lake Tahoe, CA
September 22-24, 2026

We are delighted to announce that the 2026 WPEF Science and Management Conference and Training will be held in South Lake Tahoe, CA. This exciting conference is scheduled from Tuesday, September 22 through Thursday, September 24. The main venue will be at Valhalla Tahoe right on the south shore of Lake Tahoe, and we will have an exciting program that covers the science and management of high-elevation, five-needle pines, especially whitebark pine.

This year’s conference includes an option for a Whitebark Pine Forest Management Training. You can find more information about the training at the link below.

Whitebark Pine Forest Management Training

General Schedule

• TUESDAY 9/22: Scenic Hike at Carson Pass (optional)
• TUESDAY EVENING 9/22: Community Program
• WEDNESDAY 9/23: Conference Presentations
• WEDNESDAY EVENING 9/23: Social & Silent Auction
• THURSDAY 9/24: Field Trip & Training *We currently have a waitlist for the Thursday training but hope to open more spaces soon.

Proposals for Presentations have closed. We are no longer accepting abstract submissions for posters. However, if you have a poster you would like to share at the conference, you are welcome to bring it along.

Presentations and poster session will take place on Wednesday, September 23rd at Valhalla Tahoe in South Lake Tahoe, California.

Presentations and posters should highlight projects assessing the state of or advances in management, conservation, and science on high-elevation five-needle pines. Please submit abstracts using the form linked below.

Form to Submit Abstracts

Please reach out with additional questions to [email protected]

Registration Information

Early Registration has been extended through September 15, 2026. Prices will then increase by $25. *Please note that we are not currently accepting registrations for the Tuesday organized hike or the Thursday field trip. We will re-open these events if spots become available.

All non-member registrants will receive a 1-year WPEF membership with their registration. Full registration includes all Tuesday- Thursday events listed in the general schedule. If you are not currently a WPEF member, you will receive a one-year membership with your full conference registration payment.

Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like to request an alternate registration type with a reduced payment. We rely on conference registration funds to cover the costs of the conference and associated programs, but we do not want cost to be a barrier for attendance.

• Full non-member registration $175
• Full member registration $150
• Full Student registration $75

Virtual registration is available for Wednesday presentations only. No virtual registrations will be accepted after this date.

• Virtual non-member registration $50
• Virtual WPEF member registration $25

Full refunds (minus a $25 admin fee) are available up to 2 weeks prior to the conference. Starting on September 10, 2026 50% refunds will be available until the week of the conference. No refunds will be available after Friday, September 18, 2026. Conference registrant name transfers are permitted up until the week of the conference (ending 9/18/26).

Plan your Tahoe visit with the activities, travel, and accomodation information compiled by our conference team. We look forward to seeing you in September!

Conference Details including a draft schedule and list of presentations are now available on the website. The final schedule and abstract booklet will be sent to registrants in September.