A proposal to establish a vast 3,400-kilometer wildlife corridor connecting Yellowstone National Park in the U.S. to Canada’s Yukon has been named a finalist for Prince William’s annual environmental awards. The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) is the first Canadian project to reach this stage. Y2Y is competing in the Protect & Restore Nature category of the 2026 Earthshot Prizes, where 15 finalists across different categories were selected. Each category winner will receive £1 million ($1.9 million Cdn) during a ceremony in Mumbai in November.
The Earthshot Prize recognized Y2Y as a significant conservation effort, aiming to reconnect a vast mountainous landscape spanning Canada and the U.S., allowing wildlife to move freely across the region. The corridor is a habitat for various large mammals, including wolves, grizzly bears, wolverines, and endangered mountain caribou, covering an area larger than the United Kingdom.
Y2Y, launched in 1993 as a collaborative effort between the U.S. and Canada, has grown into a substantial conservation partnership. The initiative was inspired by the journey of a wolf named Pluie, who traveled extensively across multiple states and provinces over two years. The project’s goal is to address the need for wildlife to migrate due to climate change and habitat fragmentation, ensuring their survival and conservation.
Over the past 30 years, Y2Y has expanded protected areas within the corridor, working with various stakeholders such as governments, Indigenous nations, private landowners, and scientists. The initiative has facilitated the construction of wildlife road crossings and played a crucial role in reviving the Klinse-Za caribou herd in British Columbia, preventing their extinction.
Apart from benefiting wildlife, the initiative has also had positive impacts on people, including providing more parkland for recreational activities and reducing vehicle collisions through wildlife crossings. The project has plans for further protected areas and crossings in development.
While the Earthshot Prize funds would be insufficient for large-scale projects like wildlife crossings, the recognition from the award can raise awareness and attract support from other organizations globally. The Earthshot Prize aims to promote innovation in addressing environmental challenges and fighting climate change, with plans to continue the award until 2030.