Yellowstone to Yukon

Objective

Starting in January 2025, Fondazione Capellino is supporting an ambitious conservation project: the creation of a vast biodiversity corridor stretching between the United States and Canada.

The goal of the Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) project is to connect and protect an extensive 3,400km area between Yellowstone National Park in the United States and the Yukon Territory in Canada.

Y2Y is committed to large-scale conservation, preserving the integrity and restoring the connectivity of habitats along the Rocky Mountain range, from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to the Yukon Territory.
Through a system of wildlife corridors, central protected areas are connected and new buffer zones are created to further safeguard the system from the impacts of industrial and urban development.

Area of intervention

The project covers an area of over 1.3 million km² (130 million hectares) and involves five U.S. states (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Washington, and Oregon — Yellowstone National Park is located primarily in Wyoming, but it also extends slightly into Montana and Idaho), two Canadian provinces, two Canadian territories, and at least 75 Indigenous territories (in Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories).
One third of the project is therefore located in the United States and two thirds in Canada.

Project

Y2Y works to protect crucial habitats, create protected areas (primarily in Canada), and establish safe wildlife corridors through defragmentation actions (mainly in the USA), removing barriers and building overpasses and underpasses, as well as collaborating with local communities to implement actions that benefit both nature and people.

This work represents a collaboration among conservation groups, government agencies, Indigenous governments, landowners, and wildlife scientists.

Existing national, state, and provincial parks form the foundation of the system, while the creation of new protected areas and special management zones provides the additional core areas and corridors needed to complete this network.

All of this is grounded in scientific principles of conservation biology, focal species assessments, and the knowledge of local communities, also with the goal of promoting sustainable economies.

DURATION

Start: January 2025

End: indefinite

OUR INVESTMENT

720.000,00 $CAN

Fondazione Capellino invested these funds from January 2025 to December 2026.

2024 – 2026

Project updates

The main developments of the Y2Y initiative, from 2024 to today. Use the arrows or the bar at the bottom to navigate.

Apr – Jun 2026

New Radium wildlife overpass opens

The new wildlife overpass on Highway 93/95 near Radium, British Columbia, opened on 2nd June. Together with new fencing, it will help reduce collisions with vehicles and provide safe crossings for one of the last healthy populations of bighorn sheep, as well as deer, elk and many other species living in the Columbia Valley.

Apr – Jun 2026

A historic agreement with the Kaska Nations

Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) and representatives of the four Kaska Nations have signed a memorandum of understanding, setting out a shared vision for the conservation and stewardship of Dena Kayeh, the Kaska traditional territory. The agreement supports the creation of the Dene K’éh Kusān Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area and is the first partnership of its kind between the Kaska Nations and an environmental organisation.

Jan – Mar 2026

Canada: new Nature Strategy and CA$ 3.8 billion for nature and connectivity

On March 31, 2026, the Canadian federal government announced A Force of Nature, its new strategy for protecting 30% of land and water by 2030. It includes CA$ 3.8 billion in new funding, up to 10 new national parks, 15 national urban parks and 4 national wildlife areas. Y2Y, together with the Green Budget Coalition and through advocacy work in Ottawa, helped make connectivity and funding for new protected areas central priorities.

Jan – Mar 2026

Wildlife crossings in the Y2Y region: total rises to 204

As of January 31, 2026, the semiannual count of completed wildlife crossings in the Y2Y region increased to 204, up from 179 reported in August 2025. The update includes structures built or adapted to improve passage for terrestrial species, as well as new sections of fencing that guide animals toward crossings. Completed projects include Osburn in Idaho, Drummond–Gold Creek in Montana, Rock Creek on Highway 3 in Alberta, and Wilson in Wyoming.

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Oct – Dec 2025

Wolverine Project: scientific publication with media impact

The Wolverine Project study in Ktunaxa territory, led by Y2Y’s Nikki Heim as principal author, was covered by Canada’s National Observer and nearly 60 media outlets, with a potential reach of about 4 million people, showing how a proposed resort would threaten a critical ecological corridor.

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Oct – Dec 2025

Petition for Highway 1 in Yoho National Park tabled in Parliament

The Y2Y-supported petition to twin the 40 km section of Highway 1 through Yoho National Park received enough signatures to be tabled in Parliament. The project includes 24 wildlife crossings and fencing to reduce road mortality.

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Oct – Dec 2025

Osburn, Idaho wildlife crossings: animals are already using them

The I-90 wildlife crossings between Osburn and Silverton, built by converting an old abandoned bridge, are now operational and Idaho Fish and Game cameras have documented hundreds of deer using them. The community-led project, supported by Y2Y, received broad media coverage.

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Oct – Dec 2025

New Island Ridge wildlife overpass announced on Highway 3 in Alberta

The Government of Alberta announced the new Island Ridge wildlife overpass project west of Crowsnest Lakes, the second of five crossings planned under the Reconnecting the Rockies project. The Rock Creek underpass is nearing completion after construction began in 2024.

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Oct – Dec 2025

IUCN report: Y2Y as a case study for large-scale conservation

The IUCN published Scaling Up Conservation in a Connected World at the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. Y2Y’s Jordan Reeves is a co-author and is quoted in the press release: “For 30 years, Y2Y has been advancing conservation at the scale nature requires.”

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Jul – Sep 2025

Montana Governor publicly signs wildlife crossing laws

Governor Gianforte held a press conference to sign two laws, creating a permanent account for wildlife crossings, the first time the Governor publicly spoke in support of these structures. A 2024 survey commissioned by Y2Y found 85% bipartisan support among Montana residents.

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Jul – Sep 2025

Defending the Roadless Rule in the United States

The U.S. administration announced plans to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule, a key protection for connected habitats. Y2Y worked with board member Leslie Weldon to commission journalist Ben Goldfarb to write an article for the Boston Globe, reframing the rule’s importance through the lens of ecological connectivity.

Jul – Sep 2025

Updated wildlife crossing count: 179 in the Y2Y region

As of 31st July, the total number of completed wildlife crossings in the Y2Y region rose to 179, up from 177 in March. This includes completion of the Y2Y-supported McArthur Lake project on US-95 in Idaho, as well as an older project in Alberta’s Bow Valley that had not previously been reported.

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Apr – Jun 2025

Land-use planning in northwestern British Columbia: more than 13 million acres at stake

British Columbia launched a land-use planning process with five Indigenous Nations that could protect more than 13 million acres through IPCAs and other conservation designations. Y2Y has played a key role over the past five years. The announcement includes a one-year moratorium on new mineral claims across about one third of the area.

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Apr – Jun 2025

Opening of Alberta’s first wildlife overpass outside national parks

On June 13, the Government of Alberta officially opened the province’s first wildlife overpass built outside the national park system, east of Canmore. Y2Y staff attended the ceremony, emphasizing how these structures transform “a wall into a reconnected landscape.”

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Apr – Jun 2025

I-90 crossing project in Idaho: work begins

The Osburn-Silverton project in northern Idaho, which converts an old abandoned overpass into a functioning wildlife crossing, secured all necessary funding, including Y2Y’s contribution and construction began in the summer. Idaho Fish and Game specifically recognized Y2Y’s contribution to advancing the project.

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Apr – Jun 2025

New laws in Montana to fund wildlife crossings

Montana’s Governor signed two key laws: HB 855, creating a specialty license plate for a dedicated wildlife crossing fund, and HB 932, directing 5% of marijuana tax revenue to a new Habitat Legacy Account, the first permanent state funding mechanism for wildlife crossings.

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Apr – Jun 2025

Ministerial award for the Bow Valley Gap overpass

Dialog received the Minister’s Award for Transportation Innovation for designing the Bow Valley Gap wildlife overpass on Highway 1. Y2Y worked closely on the implementation of this infrastructure, which turns a critical bottleneck into a safe corridor for wildlife.

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Apr – Jun 2025

First Canadian Conference on Ecological Connectivity

More than 200 participants from governments, industry, Indigenous Peoples, and NGOs gathered in Banff. The conference highlighted the success of Parks Canada’s National Program for Ecological Corridors and presented the Y2Y region as a key example of large-scale conservation.

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Jan – Mar 2025

Film on caribou in northern British Columbia

Y2Y’s 2024 grant cycle funded a documentary about the Northern Mountain Caribou Summit in Dease Lake, which brought together Indigenous knowledge holders, hunting guides and researchers. Released on World Wildlife Day, the film was highly appreciated by local Indigenous communities.

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Jan – Mar 2025

U.S. federal investment of US $86 million for wildlife crossings in the Y2Y region

Two new grants from the federal Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program were awarded in the Y2Y region, bringing total investment to more than US $86 million. The funds will support three new wildlife underpasses on Highway 30 in southeastern Idaho and a feasibility study on Highway 93 in Montana.

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Jan – Mar 2025

Coal moratorium lifted in Alberta: Y2Y leads the response

On January 16, Alberta’s Minister of Energy signed an order removing barriers to the development of 188,000 hectares of coal mining leases along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Y2Y launched the “Mountains Not Mines” mobilisation campaign, bringing together grassroots organizations, communities and Indigenous Nations.

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Oct – Dec 2024

Progress in the heart of Yukon: agreement for a national park

The Ross River Dena proposed the creation of an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area of more than 40,000 km² (about 8% of Yukon) — an area the size of Switzerland. In December 2024, they signed an agreement with the Government of Yukon and Parks Canada to conduct a feasibility study. Y2Y supported the community during the previous year.

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Oct – Dec 2024

Completion of the Bow Valley Gap wildlife overpass in Alberta

At the end of 2024, the Bow Valley Gap wildlife overpass (Stoney Nakoda Exshaw wildlife arch) was completed west of Calgary. Along the Trans-Canada Highway, 12 km of fencing guide elk, cougars and grizzly bears toward the bridge. Cameras recorded animals crossing even before the official completion.

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Oct – Dec 2024

Bear-smart communities: at least 40 across the region

At least 40 communities in the Y2Y region have been identified as taking positive steps toward human-wildlife coexistence. Y2Y, a member of the U.S. Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, led discussions at the annual summit focused on creating “bear-smart” communities, offering practical guidance on managing encounters with bears.

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Oct – Dec 2024

Policies and recommendations for responsible tourism

Y2Y shared the results and recommendations of its slow and responsible tourism project with hundreds of government officials, land managers and recreation groups. Parks Canada collaborated to align the guidance with its multi-species action plans in Banff, Kootenay and Yoho national parks.

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Jul – Sep 2024

New fencing on Interstate 90 in Idaho

The project to install several km of new fencing and raise the height of existing fencing along Interstate 90 in Idaho is moving forward, guiding wildlife toward two highway crossings. In collaboration with the Western Transportation Institute, work is underway to study where additional crossings are needed along I-90.

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Jul – Sep 2024

Conservation of key private lands in the U.S. and Canada

In 2024, Y2Y helped conserve six private land parcels in the United States and Canada, protecting 27 km² (6,794 acres), with another 7 km² in the final stages. These include an innovative conservation easement that protects thousands of acres of grizzly bear habitat while guaranteeing Indigenous Peoples perpetual access for cultural uses.

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Jul – Sep 2024

Living with grizzly bears: the Elk Valley Coexistence Coalition

In British Columbia’s Elk Valley, where bear mortality rates are exceptionally high, Y2Y helped form the Elk Valley Coexistence Coalition — a partnership among communities, Indigenous Nations, industry, conservation groups and the provincial government. Electric fencing and fruit-tree removal programs were launched.

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Apr – Jun 2024

Expansion of Klinse-za/Twin Sisters Park: 75 times larger

The West Moberly First Nations, Saulteau First Nations and the governments of British Columbia and Canada announced the expansion of Klinse-za/Twin Sisters Park: from 2,689 to more than 200,000 hectares, the largest park created in British Columbia in the past decade. Ten years ago the caribou herd had fallen to 13 animals; today it numbers approximately 200.

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Apr – Jun 2024

Collaboration with Indigenous communities

One quarter of protected areas in the Y2Y region are managed or co-managed by Indigenous Peoples. Y2Y was invited to collaborate on 11 initiatives supporting land designations and stewardship programs led by Indigenous communities, including a proposed national park in Yukon and Indigenous Guardians programs in northern British Columbia.

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Apr – Jun 2024

Reconnecting the Rockies — Highway 3

The Reconnecting the Rockies project improves connectivity along 80 km of Highway 3 between Crowsnest Pass (Alberta) and the Elk Valley (British Columbia). Y2Y was selected by Parks Canada as a pilot project for the National Program for Ecological Corridors. The goal is to install 10 crossing points by 2027, six are already operational.

Apr – Jun 2024

More than US $30 million for Highway 93 in Montana

More than $30 million in U.S. federal funding was secured for work on Highway 93 in Montana, where 11 grizzly bears were killed by vehicles while attempting to cross a densely developed valley. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are leading this work. Y2Y coordinated activities with the Tribes.

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Jan – Mar 2024

177 wildlife crossings and new projects underway

Since 1993, protected areas in the Y2Y region have grown at twice the rate of the rest of North America, with total protection increasing by more than 80%. The Y2Y region currently has 177 wildlife crossings (overpasses and underpasses). In 2024, 9 new crossings were completed or started, with another 47 in design or planning.

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2026

Apr – Jun 2026

Jan – Mar 2026

2025

Oct – Dec 2025

Jul – Sep 2025

Apr – Jun 2025

Jan – Mar 2025

2024

Oct – Dec 2024

Jul – Sep 2024

Apr – Jun 2024

Jan – Mar 2024

Partner

Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y®) is a collaborative effort between a U.S. non-profit organisation and a Canadian public charity that together connect and protect habitat from Yellowstone to Yukon so people and nature can thrive.