A groundbreaking initiative aiming to establish a 3,400-kilometre habitat corridor allowing wildlife like wolves, elk, and others to freely traverse from Yellowstone National Park in the U.S. to Canada’s Yukon has emerged as the first Canadian contender for Prince William’s prestigious environmental awards. The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) has been selected as a finalist in the Protect & Restore Nature category of the 2026 Earthshot Prizes, alongside two other finalists. The Earthshot Prize recognized Y2Y as a monumental conservation effort that reconnects a vast mountain landscape between Canada and the U.S., enabling wildlife to move unhindered, reminiscent of ancient times.
This corridor hosts various large mammals, including wolves, grizzly bears, wolverines, and endangered mountain caribou, within its existing 25 million hectares of protected land area, slightly larger than the United Kingdom. The collaborative Y2Y project, initiated in 1993 by a U.S. non-profit and a Canadian charity, has made substantial progress over the years. Inspired by a wolf named Pluie, fitted with a satellite tracking collar near Banff National Park in 1991, the initiative aims to address the need for expansive habitats to sustain wildlife like Pluie.
Recognizing the impact of climate change on migration patterns, the project seeks to facilitate the movement of animals to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Y2Y’s efforts have resulted in an increase in protected areas within the corridor from nine percent to nearly 18 percent, with significant contributions from various partners, including governments, Indigenous nations, private landowners, and scientists. The initiative has also played a crucial role in constructing over 200 wildlife road crossings and assisting Indigenous partners in reviving the Klinse-Za caribou herd from the brink of extinction in British Columbia.
Apart from ecological benefits, such as reduced wildlife-vehicle collisions and enhanced parklands for public enjoyment, Y2Y’s conservation work has demonstrated positive impacts on carbon absorption and water preservation in the region. Despite the financial challenges, with a single wildlife overpass or underpass costing up to $20 million, the Earthshot Prize nomination offers a platform to raise awareness, attract support, and foster collaboration with global entities addressing similar conservation issues.
The Earthshot Prize, established in 2021 and awarded annually in categories like Protect & Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-free World, and Fix Our Climate, aims to drive innovation in combating climate change and environmental dilemmas. The initiative is set to continue until 2030, promoting sustainable solutions to global environmental challenges.
