North America | Support Conservation Today — Liz Claiborne Art Ortenberg Foundation

Transboundary rockies

The Transboundary Rocky Mountains of the US and Canada offer an abundance of spectacular scenery and dramatic wilderness. The high altitudes, rugged terrain, sharp seasonal variations in climate, bitter winters, snowslides, tumbling meltwater, other potent forces of erosion, and frequent wildfires have largely defended it against widespread modification by humans.

As a result, the Rockies today retain the largest proportion of undeveloped landscapes and intact native plant and animal communities on the North American continent south of the subarctic zone. They also host North America’s greatest diversity of mid-size and large mammals, including the iconic and endangered grizzly bear and American bison.

Not even the Rockies, however, are immune to the pressures of a growing population and demand for resource development. As the landscape becomes increasingly fragmented, the loss of habitat and connectivity puts wildlife at risk and increases the potential for human-wildlife conflict.

To ensure continued protection of this important region, the Foundation has supported conservation efforts since 1990 across a range of strategies including land protection, advocacy and civic engagement, environmental education, conservation science, and Indigenous-led conservation. Partners range from large national institutions to small grassroots organizations, working with local, national, and Tribal governments and communities to ensure that this special place and its wildlife and people persist and thrive.

northern canada

The boreal forests, taiga, and alpine tundra of northern Canada contain a variety of climatic and physical features that have made it a refugium for wildlife throughout its history.

Supporting abundant concentrations of charismatic megafauna including caribou, bison, grizzly bear, wolverine, and moose, the region is also a critical migratory stopover for Arctic breeding birds and hosts the world’s longest salmon migration.

The influx of settlers over the past two centuries has strained the wildlife and natural resources of the region, along with the traditional way of life for the First Nations who live and depend on the land. The relatively intact ecosystems of this region now face growing threats from the cumulative impacts of climate change and industrial development, compounded by associated infrastructure expansion. Mining exploration and energy development pose significant risks, while the disproportionate footprint of infrastructure such as roads, forestry activities, and agriculture in valley bottoms further fragment habitats. Additionally, the push for critical minerals, an increasing human population, and a shifting political landscape continue to intensify pressures on the region.

The Foundation has recently begun investing in First Nation-led priorities in northwest Canada to protect this region’s important ecosystems. Activities focus on the establishment of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, supporting land-use planning processes, developing science to inform conservation policies, and supporting rural economic livelihoods.