A proposal to establish a vast 3,400-kilometre habitat corridor connecting Yellowstone National Park in the U.S. to Canada’s Yukon has been named as a finalist for Prince William’s prestigious environmental awards. The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) was recognized as one of the top three finalists in the Protect & Restore Nature category of the 2026 Earthshot Prizes. The Earthshot Prize highlighted Y2Y as a groundbreaking conservation effort aiming to restore a vast mountainous landscape across the U.S. and Canada to allow wildlife to move freely as they did in the past.
The corridor is a sanctuary for various large mammals like wolves, grizzly bears, wolverines, and endangered mountain caribou, covering an area exceeding 25 million hectares, slightly larger than the United Kingdom. Y2Y, initiated in 1993 as a collaborative effort between the U.S. and Canada, has significantly expanded protected areas within the corridor over the years.
Inspired by a wolf named Pluie, which roamed extensively across multiple states and provinces, Y2Y aims to address the challenge of fragmented habitats due to climate change by providing a connected migration route for wildlife. The initiative has made remarkable progress, working with numerous partners to increase protected areas, establish wildlife road crossings, and aid in the recovery of endangered species like the Klinse-Za caribou herd.
The potential benefits extend beyond wildlife conservation, with protected lands contributing to carbon absorption, clean water preservation, and reduced wildlife-vehicle collisions. Despite the financial constraints, winning the Earthshot Prize could raise global awareness, attract more support, and foster collaboration with organizations worldwide to address common environmental challenges.
The Earthshot Prize, awarded annually since 2021 across five categories, aims to promote innovative solutions to combat climate change and environmental issues. The initiative is set to continue until 2030, recognizing initiatives that demonstrate significant progress in environmental conservation and sustainability.