A proposal to establish a vast 3,400-kilometre wildlife corridor connecting Yellowstone National Park in the U.S. to Canada’s Yukon has been selected as a finalist for Prince William’s annual environmental awards. The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) is vying for the top spot in the Protect & Restore Nature category of the 2026 Earthshot Prizes. This initiative, which spans a mountainous landscape across Canada and the U.S., aims to enable the free movement of various wildlife species like wolves, grizzly bears, wolverines, and endangered mountain caribou.
Y2Y, recognized by the Earthshot Prize as one of the most extensive conservation collaborations in history, has already safeguarded 25 million hectares of land, slightly surpassing the size of the United Kingdom. Originating as a joint effort between a U.S. non-profit organization and a Canadian charity in 1993, the initiative has made significant strides in expanding protected areas within the corridor, now covering nearly 18% of the total space.
Inspired by the journey of a wolf named Pluie, fitted with a tracking collar near Banff National Park in 1991, Y2Y emphasizes the need to think on a grand scale to support wildlife like Pluie, who roamed across vast territories spanning three U.S. states, two Canadian provinces, and three national parks. The project addresses the impacts of climate change by facilitating the movement of species to more suitable habitats as temperatures rise.
Over the past thirty years, Y2Y has collaborated with 800 partners, including governments, Indigenous communities, private landowners, and scientists, to enhance conservation efforts. Notable achievements include the establishment of over 200 wildlife road crossings and successful initiatives to revive endangered species like the Klinse-Za caribou herd in British Columbia.
The Earthshot Prize, awarded annually since 2021, aims to drive innovation to combat climate change and environmental issues. Despite the financial limitations, winning the £1 million award could significantly raise awareness for Y2Y’s cause, attracting additional support and resources to further its conservation objectives. The Earthshot Prize will continue until 2030, recognizing initiatives that strive to protect and restore nature, clean the air, revive oceans, build a waste-free world, and address climate challenges.