A groundbreaking initiative aiming to establish a vast habitat corridor for wolves, elk, and other wildlife stretching from Yellowstone National Park in the U.S. to Canada’s Yukon has been named as a finalist for Prince William’s annual environmental prizes. The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) has been recognized in the Protect & Restore Nature category of the 2026 Earthshot Prizes, alongside two other finalists. The Earthshot Prize highlighted the Y2Y project as one of the largest conservation collaborations ever seen, reconnecting a massive mountain landscape across Canada and the U.S. to enable wildlife to move freely as they did for centuries.
This habitat corridor, which is already home to various large mammals like wolves, grizzly bears, wolverines, and endangered mountain caribou, spans 3,400 kilometers and includes 25 million hectares of protected land, slightly larger than the United Kingdom. The Y2Y initiative, established in 1993 as a joint effort between a U.S. non-profit and a Canadian charity, has made significant strides in increasing protected areas within the corridor and collaborating with numerous partners, including governments, Indigenous nations, private landowners, and scientists.
The inspiration for the project stemmed from the journey of a wolf named Pluie, equipped with a satellite tracking collar near Banff National Park in 1991. The data from Pluie’s travels highlighted the necessity of thinking at a scale that aligns with the needs of nature to sustain wildlife populations effectively. Additionally, with the awareness of climate change impacting migration patterns, the initiative aims to address the challenges faced by animals in fragmented habitats by creating a climate migration route.
Over the past three decades, the Y2Y initiative has worked on expanding protected areas, constructing wildlife road crossings, and collaborating with Indigenous partners to safeguard endangered species. The initiative not only benefits wildlife but also provides advantages for people, such as increased parkland, reduced vehicle collisions, carbon absorption, and clean water preservation. Despite financial challenges, the Earthshot Prize nomination offers an opportunity to raise awareness, attract support, and connect with global efforts addressing similar environmental issues.
The Earthshot Prize, initiated in 2021, focuses on fostering innovation to combat climate change and environmental threats across five categories. The annual award aims to continue until 2030, recognizing and supporting initiatives that contribute to a sustainable future.