Freedom to roam
North America´s Wildlife Corridors
Amongst scientists, the need for connectivity between natural areas and preserves has become basic knowledge. Isolated pockets of land, established as parks and preserves, are not enough to maintain a sustainable, healthy ecosystem that supports both wildlife and human communities over time. Florian recognized the importance of wildlife corridors when he started his work on his Freedom to Roam project over two decades ago.
Vital areas have been identified in North America recognizing their unmatched biodiversity and pristine wilderness: The Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) and the Baja to Beaufort (B2B) eco regions. Like geographic arteries of the wild, Y2Y and B2B connect the last vestiges of the western wilderness in a river of hope to preserve the habitats of many endangered wide-ranging migratory mammals and birds to give them the freedom to roam.
“ … my dream is to help create the first ‘National Corridor.’ America created Yellowstone as the first National Park – now it is essential that we connect the parks to preserve their vitality for future generations and allow wildlife to follow their natural routes. If we are successful here, the idea of National Corridors could spread around the world, just like the National Park idea has. “
- Florian
The Areas
Overview
B2B - Baja to Beaufort
The coastline of the B2B region is a rich habitat where land meets the sea, and sweetwater meets saltwater. Running from Baja California to the Beaufort Sea, this region encompasses a long connected line of sand, surf, cliff, island, estuary and marsh, as well as abutting coastal forest and ocean. Marine and terrestrial interrelationships are vast and complex, linking the life of the ocean depths to the very tops of ancient trees—and ultimately to us.
This biological corridor encompasses deserts, sierras, mangroves, fjords, archipelagos, and a vast stretch of arctic tundra. This is an ecosystem rich in migratory birds, fish and marine mammals, giving home also to the last large migratory herd of ungulates in the Americas. In the North it is also the home to some of the most powerful animals like bears and wolves. Certain parts of this region represent some of the wildest ecosystems still to be found on Earth and allows for the creation and preservation of wildlife corridors. But constant threats by development, industry and pollution are an ever growing issue.
The arrow shows B2B and the dark grey area shows Y2Y.
Y2Y - Yellowstone to Yukon
In his first Freedom to Roam project on Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y), Florian has focused his efforts on a region that is considered one of the last largely intact mountain ecosystems in the world. From Yellowstone National Park in the south, the broad expanse of land follows the spine of the continent all the way to the Yukon Territory. Not only is the region a stronghold for many carnivores and other large mammals in the continent, but Y2Y also serves as a model for large-scale landscape connectivity worldwide.
Building on the existing Parks and other protected areas, the challenge is now to preserve a interconnected web of life so that wildlife continues to have the freedom to roam. This ambitious plan can only be achieved in a huge collaborative effort where private citizens, government representatives, NGOs, scientists, conservationists and the different Native American and First Nation tribes come together.
In this large alliance, Florian has played a key role by creating a visual conservation campaign to promote the Yellowstone to Yukon vision and to ensure the ecological health and integrity of this magnificent mountain landscape.
Outreach
Books, Exhibits and Keynotes
Books
As part of this ambitious conservation project, Florian Schulz embarked on an extensive photographic journey, documenting the unmatched beauty, scale, and biodiversity of some of the world’s most endangered ecosystems. Travelling across vast wilderness landscapes, he captured powerful visual narratives that highlight both the fragility and resilience of these natural habitats.
The result is a series of masterfully composed images brought together in inspiring coffee-table books — visual testaments to the importance of protecting wild spaces for future generations.
Unterwegs in der Wildnis
Nordamerikas unberührte Westküste
Publisher: Knesebeck Verlag (2016)
The Wild Edge
Freedom to Roam the Pacific Coast
Publisher: Mountaineers Books (2015)
Yellowstone to Yukon
Freedom to Roam
Publisher: Mountaineers Books (2005)
Exhibits
Wilderness on the walls
Florian’s Freedom to Roam images have been presented in several solo exhibitions across the United States, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany. In museums including the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, the Field Museum, the Museo di Scienze Naturali dell'Alto Adige, and Haus der Natur - Naturpark Südschwarzwald.
The exhibitions were shown under the titles: Yellowstone to Yukon – Freedom to Roam
: North America’s Wild Heart
, Grenzenlose Wildnis – Freedom to Roam,
Liberi e Selvaggi.
Each exhibition invited audiences to experience the vastness, ecological importance, and untamed spirit of North America’s remaining wilderness — underscoring the urgent need to protect these connected landscapes for future generations.
Press & Presentations
All around the globe
As part of the continuos effort to reach an ever broader audience and to educate the public about the Y2Y and B2B ecoregions, Florian has worked in closely with internationally renowned publications to publish interesting and informative articles about this major conservation project. Photography and natural history magazines in the United States, Canada, Germany, Britain, Italy, Greece and China have largely covered Florian’s extensive work on the region and have helped to spread and promote the
idea about wildlife corridors and connectivity.
Over 100 lectures across the United States, Canada, Switzerland and Germany have been delivered to date and will continue. Events have been hosted in collaboration with multiple Colleges & Universities, Museums, Libraries, Festivals and Clubs; one government agency—the Canadian Consulate General; and over 35 organizations, among them the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Alaska Wilderness League, the Wilderness Society, Wildsight and Conservation Northwest.
