A proposal to establish a vast 3,400-kilometre wildlife corridor stretching from 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 initiative, known as the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y), is among the top contenders in the Protect & Restore Nature category of the 2026 Earthshot Prizes. The Earthshot Prize recognized Y2Y as a groundbreaking conservation effort that aims to reconnect a massive mountain landscape across Canada and the U.S., allowing wildlife to move freely as they did in the past.
The corridor provides a habitat for various large mammals, including wolves, grizzly bears, wolverines, and endangered mountain caribou, covering an area of 25 million hectares, slightly larger than the United Kingdom. The initiative was launched in 1993 as a collaborative effort between a U.S. non-profit organization and a Canadian charity.
Inspired by a wolf named Pluie, who traveled extensively across multiple states and provinces fitted with a satellite tracking collar, Y2Y aims to address the need for large-scale conservation efforts to support wildlife like Pluie. Over the years, Y2Y has expanded protected areas within the corridor from nine percent to nearly 18 percent through partnerships with various stakeholders, including governments, Indigenous nations, private landowners, and scientists. The initiative has also facilitated the construction of over 200 wildlife road crossings and contributed to the recovery of endangered species such as the Klinse-Za caribou herd in British Columbia.
Apart from benefiting wildlife, the initiative has led to positive outcomes for people, such as increased parkland space for recreation and reduced wildlife-vehicle collisions. Y2Y’s efforts have also contributed to carbon absorption and the preservation of clean water sources in the region.
While the Earthshot Prize recognition comes with a £1 million award, Y2Y acknowledges that the funding may not cover the significant costs involved in establishing wildlife crossings. However, the initiative sees the value of the award in raising awareness, inspiring collaboration, and connecting with global partners to address shared environmental challenges.
The Earthshot Prize, initiated in 2021, aims to drive innovation in addressing climate change and environmental issues, with awards presented in categories like Protect & Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-free World, and Fix Our Climate. The prize is set to continue until 2030, recognizing and supporting impactful environmental initiatives worldwide.
