Room for everyone: Reflections on 2025 from Y2Y President and Chief Scientist, Dr. Jodi Hilty
Jodi onstage at TEDxBoston. Credit: Eric Sanderson.
“When I think about what we’ve accomplished together this year, I’m reminded that the most powerful force in conservation isn’t any single policy, paper, or protected area — it’s people coming together around what they love.” — Jodi Hilty, Y2Y President and Chief Scientist
Since starting in 1993, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative has grown into something remarkable: a big tent where ranchers and biologists, First Nations and town planners, hikers and hunters all find common ground. We span hundreds of communities, and a beautiful diversity of perspectives. What unites us is wanting a future where wildlife thrives and people prosper alongside them.
This year proved that vision isn’t just idealistic; it’s practical.
For instance, in British Columbia’s Creston Valley, ranchers, First Nations leaders, farmers, biologists, and residents gathered to craft a coexistence plan. With Y2Y support, thanks to donors like you, the community hosted a Bear Fair drawing more than 200 people and funded a wildlife coexistence coordinator position.
This collaborative spirit has been Y2Y’s hallmark since our founding. As we celebrated our 32nd anniversary this year, I reflected on how far we’ve come. By the end of 2025, we have now seen 204 wildlife crossings built under and over roads around the region — pathways that literally bridge the divides between human infrastructure and wildlife movement.
In November, I had the privilege of sharing Y2Y’s mission and vision at TEDxBoston, bringing our story to new audiences who understand that the challenges facing our planet require solutions as expansive as the landscapes we’re protecting. Reflecting after that talk, I’ve come to believe that how we achieve our mission matters as much as what we achieve.
“What makes me most hopeful isn’t the acreage protected or the policies changed — it’s the relationships built.”
As you read through this impact report, you’ll see the metrics and milestones that mark our progress. But I hope you’ll also see the faces and stories behind them: people from different backgrounds, communities, and countries choosing to work together toward a connected, flourishing landscape from Yellowstone to Yukon.
That’s our big tent. There’s always room for more.
