A groundbreaking project aiming to establish a massive 3,400-kilometre wildlife corridor stretching from Yellowstone National Park in the U.S. to Canada’s Yukon has been selected as a finalist for Prince William’s prestigious annual environmental awards. The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) has emerged as the first Canadian finalist in the Protect & Restore Nature category of the 2026 Earthshot Prizes, alongside two other finalists.
Y2Y, recognized as one of the most significant conservation collaborations in history, endeavors to reconnect a vast mountain landscape across the U.S. and Canada to facilitate the free movement of wildlife, including wolves, grizzly bears, wolverines, and endangered mountain caribou. Covering an area larger than the United Kingdom, the corridor comprises 25 million hectares of protected land.
Initiated as a joint effort between a U.S. non-profit organization and a Canadian charity in 1993, Y2Y has made substantial progress over the years. The project draws inspiration from a wolf named Pluie, equipped with a satellite tracking collar near Banff National Park in 1991. Pluie’s extensive travels through multiple regions underscored the necessity of conservation efforts on a larger scale to ensure the sustainability of diverse species.
Recognizing the impact of climate change on wildlife habitats, Y2Y aims to address the challenges posed by fragmented environments and the need for migration routes. The initiative has collaborated with various stakeholders, including governments, Indigenous communities, private landowners, and scientists, to expand protected areas within the corridor and establish wildlife road crossings.
Apart from benefiting wildlife, Y2Y’s initiatives have had positive outcomes for local communities, such as reducing vehicle collisions and preserving carbon-absorbing land and clean water sources. Despite the substantial costs associated with conservation projects, Y2Y remains committed to its mission and hopes that the recognition from the Earthshot Prize will raise awareness, attract more support, and foster global partnerships to address common environmental challenges.
The Earthshot Prize, established in 2021, aims to drive innovation in combating climate change and environmental issues across five categories. The annual award ceremony acknowledges outstanding initiatives and is set to continue until 2030.
