A project aiming to establish a vast 3,400-kilometre habitat corridor for wolves, elk, and other wildlife from Yellowstone National Park in the U.S. to Canada’s Yukon has been selected as a finalist for Prince William’s annual environmental awards, marking the first Canadian finalist in the competition.

The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) was named a finalist in the Protect & Restore Nature category of the 2026 Earthshot Prizes, with a chance to win £1 million ($1.9 million Cdn) at a ceremony in Mumbai in November. Y2Y is recognized as one of the largest conservation collaborations in history, reconnecting a vast mountain landscape across Canada and the U.S. to enable wildlife to move freely.

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 with 25 million hectares of protected land. Y2Y, established in 1993 as a joint initiative between the U.S. and Canada, has made significant progress in expanding protected areas and creating wildlife road crossings.

The project draws inspiration from a wolf named Pluie, tracked through a vast area spanning multiple states and provinces, highlighting the need to address habitat fragmentation and climate-related migration challenges faced by wildlife. Y2Y’s efforts have not only benefited wildlife but also provided recreational opportunities for people, reduced vehicle collisions, and contributed to carbon absorption and clean water preservation.

Despite the financial challenges, Y2Y sees the Earthshot Prize recognition as an opportunity to raise awareness, attract support, and collaborate with global partners to address common environmental issues. The Earthshot Prize, awarded annually since 2021, aims to spur innovation in combating climate change and environmental problems, with plans to continue until 2030.