The Canadian Rockies are the mountains people picture when they picture mountains: sheer limestone walls, turquoise lakes coloured by glacial flour, icefields feeding rivers that run to three different oceans. The Columbia Icefield sits on a hydrological apex, sending its meltwater to the Pacific, the Arctic, and Hudson Bay, which is a fair claim to being one of the more consequential patches of ice on the continent.
This is also where the modern idea of the national park took a particular Canadian shape, and where its contradictions are most visible: the parks were established partly to serve a railway and its tourists, and today the challenge is managing millions of visitors, a highway, and a rail line running straight through prime grizzly habitat. The wildlife overpasses on the Trans-Canada, now studied worldwide, exist because the collisions became impossible to ignore.
The organizations here work on connectivity above all, keeping the corridor from Yellowstone to the Yukon open so that bears and wolverines can move the distances they need. They monitor retreating glaciers, defend the eastern slopes against coal mining, and push back on the steady pressure to develop the valley bottoms that wildlife depends on most.
Environmental Organizations in This Bioregion
55 organizations working across this landscape.
Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation
Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) is committed to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured and orphaned wildlife. We provide expert advice...
Alberta Tomorrow Foundation
The Alberta Tomorrow Foundation is a registered charity with a visions of an informed society that actively fosters sustainable futures. Our mission is to deliver ...
Alberta Wilderness Association
Defending Wild Alberta through Awareness and Action by inspiring communities to care.
Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG)
The ACMG vision is to serve, and be trusted as, the national leaders, ambassadors and stewards in mountain-related activities and instruction.
Avalanche Canada Foundation
Saving lives in avalanche terrain through education, outreach, and public safety programs.
BC Tomorrow Society
The team at BC Tomorrow is made up of leaders and innovators in environmental education and industry experts in land use planning and cumulative effects modelin...
Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley
The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley is a Canadian environmental charity that addresses climate change and wildlife coexistence in the Canadian Rockies.
Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (CWRS)
Mission Keeping communities wild through education and expert, compassionate care for injured and orphaned wildlife. Vision Human and wildlife coexistence.
Camba (Canmore Area Mountain Bike Association)
To build, maintain, and advocate for mountain biking and a vibrant trail system in Canmore and area, for all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
CAWST (Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology)
CAWST (Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology) is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with freshwater ecosystems. Based in Calgary...
Community Connections Society
Food Recovery Program - Revelstoke Food Bank
Elk River Alliance
Our charity connects people who care about the Elk River. We invite everyone in the community to join us in protecting this river’s future.
Energy For All
Energy For All is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with climate adaptation. Based in Calgary, AB, Canada, it is included in the IdealLocation....
Experience Howl
Howl delivers experiential learning programs for youth with a focus on land & community-based relationships as a way to support fulfilling lives.
Fraser Headwaters Alliance
To maintain and restore ecosystem health and to support ecologically sustainable human communities and economies in the Fraser Headwaters bioregion
Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society
Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society (the Friends) is a non-profit organization based in Fish Creek Provincial Park in Calgary, AB, Canada. The Friends wer...
Friends of Jasper National Park Association
Friends of Jasper National Park Association is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with terrestrial ecosystems. Based in Jasper, AB, Canada, it i...
Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society
Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with freshwater ecosystems. Based in Nelson, BC, Canada, it i...
Friends of the Eastern Slopes
The Friends of the Eastern Slopes Association has the following objectives: To provide input into the recreational use of the Eastern slopes of Alberta. To encourage...
Girls* on Ice Canada
To provide transformative experiences for girls* using sciences, art, and nature.
Green Calgary Association
Green Calgary is an urban environmental education charity and leading voice for local environmental action, dedicated to a healthy city for all citizens.
Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise (KORE) Society
The Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise (KORE) is Canada's 1st network of outdoor gear makers & designers and the Kootenay hub for outdoor gear circularity.
Land of Dreams - CCIS
Multicultural Urban Farm Cooperatively managed by newcomers to Calgary, Indigenous Community Members and Calgary-born participants.
Living Lakes Canada
Living Lakes Canada facilitates collaboration in monitoring, restoration, and policy development initiatives for the long-term protection of lakes, rivers, wetlands ...
Nature Labs
Nature Labs is a virtual high school textbook.
Neighbours United
Helping you defend the people and places you love!
Nelson District Rod & Gun Club Conservation Society
To inspire, educate, and promote conservation of fish, wildlife and habitat within the Community and surrounding District of Nelson.
Open Mountains Project
Open Mountains Project was founded in 2016 by a group of young women in a small mountain town, with the goal of removing barriers to access to the mountain environm...
Outdoor Recreation Council of British Columbia
The Outdoor Recreation Council of British Columbia is a registered charity. We work to protect the two things we love most: outdoor recreation and wild places.
Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development
Maintaining a healthy environment, a stable climate and prosperous communities requires collaboration, evidence-based decision making and innovative solutions.
Project Pride Climbing
A not-for-profit that aims to use rock climbing as an avenue to build community and develop skill sets for folks in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Revelstoke Bear Aware Society
Revelstoke Bear Aware Society's mission is to reduce human-bear conflict through education, cooperation and active management initiatives in the community of Revelst...
Spirit North
To empower and inspire Indigenous youth through sport and play.
The Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC
To have a self-sustaining population of Burrowing Owls breeding within their natural historic range in British Columbia.
The Canyon to Confluence Initiative (C2Ci)
An initiative to develop a strategic plan to guide the planning, programming and management for Kicking Horse and Columbia Rivers within the Town of Golden BC
The Friends of Yoho Society
The Friends of Yoho Society promotes appreciation, understanding and stewardship of the ecology and culture of Yoho National Park.
The Great Divide Trail Association
Our mission is to collaborate with partners and communities to build, maintain, and protect the Great Divide Trail for the public’s benefit. We educate, promote, and...
The Latitude Project
The Latitude Project alleviates the stresses of multidimensional poverty byway of community driven projects that engage & empower. Each unique project evolves n...
The Resilience Institute
Weaving scientific and Indigenous ways of knowing with visual arts, land-based and experiential learning to strengthen resilience to climate impacts.
Trout Unlimited Canada
To conserve, protect, and restore Canada's freshwater ecosystems and their coldwater resources for current and future generations.
Wildsight
Protecting wildlife, wild places, and clean water in Canada’s Columbia and Rocky Mountain regions.
Wildsight Golden
The Wildsight Golden Branch empowers people to conserve, restore, and enjoy the Columbia and Rocky Mountain regions through education, research, and community actio...
Wings Over the Rockies Bird Festival Society
Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative
Connecting and protecting habitat from Yellowstone to Yukon so people and nature can thrive.