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I published a post on Land Lines, the blog for the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) about one of my favourite research projects to date -- something I started and led when I ran the science program at Yellowstone to Yukon and continued when I joined NCC. You can read it on NCC's blog (along with other posts!) or here. "Studying recreation so people and nature can thrive" October 19, 2025 by Aerin Jacob Spending time in nature is key for our mental and physical health. But as more people seek a connection to the outdoors, the pressure on natural landscapes and wildlife grows. From hiking and biking to snowmobiling and skiing, outdoor recreation is booming across Canada. And with this surge in outdoor activity comes a challenge: how do we enjoy nature without compromising cherished ecosystems or creating conflict? That’s the question driving “recreation ecology” research that the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has collaborated on with the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, the University of Northern British Columbia and other partners. Over six years, researchers studied when, where, how, and how many people are involved in outdoor recreation in western Alberta and eastern British Columbia. We needed to know how activities overlap with each other and with sensitive wildlife habitat.
A new approach to recreation data Traditional recreation monitoring tools like trail counters and cameras have long been used to measure outdoor activity. But this research goes further: integrating user-generated data from apps like Strava and AllTrails for a fuller picture of recreation patterns. By combining these sources with existing information, we mapped more than 54,000 kilometres of trails and linear features — 27 per cent of which were previously undocumented.
Our innovative approach allows for seasonal mapping of motorized and non-motorized recreation activities, alongside habitat quality maps for sensitive species at risk of extinction like grizzly bear, mountain caribou and wolverine. These insights are critical for identifying areas of overlap between high recreation use and high-quality wildlife habitat.
Climate change adds another layer of complexity, especially in winter. Warmer winters and more precipitation falling as snow brings unpredictability, a shorter snow season and concentrating recreation into smaller areas — further straining wildlife habitats. Understanding these dynamics is essential for developing species-specific guidelines and thresholds for responsible recreation.
From research to action The goal of this project isn’t just to gather data — it’s to drive positive change. By equipping land managers, governments, Indigenous Nations and communities and recreation leaders with evidence-based tools and recommendations, this and other recreation ecology research informs better planning, management and policy. Key recommendations include:
Why it matters Outdoor recreation touches so many aspects of our lives, from health and social to economic and cultural. Wise management and planning is crucial for longevity and coexistence. Without it, increased recreation can unintentionally degrade habitats, disturb wildlife and diminish outdoor experiences for everyone. This has been one of my most rewarding research projects. The results help decision-makers prioritize coexistence in recreation — now and in the future. It’s a model of how science, collaboration and creativity can ensure that when nature thrives, people thrive. Results from this research are being published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. That includes comparing different tools to measure recreation (Vilalta Capdevila et al. 2024), what that tells us about the cumulative footprint of recreation (Loosen et al. 2023), and habitat needs for species sensitive to recreation (Schepens et al. 2023), as well as others in progress. I love sharing the work that Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative and our >450 partners do across the massive Y2Y region. Discussing research and conservation at universities, government agencies, and in public venues is fun and a great way to get feedback. But giving talks often involves travel by air or vehicle, which means greenhouse gas emissions... That's why I was so pleased to join York University's Interdisciplinary Conservation in Canada seminar series, held entirely online in Winter 2020. Links to my talk are below, and please check out the other speakers -- from birds and caribou to plants and climate change. . We had technical challenges - like the white box in Part 1 that says MIKE - so bear with me.
 I talk to a lot of people who want to work in conservation-related science, practice, or policy. These careers can be so exciting, intellectually challenging, and deeply fulfilling. But it can also be difficult to know where to start or how to integrate various interests, skills, and experiences in these jobs. This blog post explains a bit about my career path to becoming the Conservation Scientist at Y2Y. I talked about it during an interview with the Best of the WWEST podcast, too. The best way to find out about conservation-related job opportunities in the Y2Y region (and beyond) is to sign up for our weekly newsletter or keep an eye on the job board. Good luck!
A new Instagram campaign highlights 20 women across Canada who work in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). #MySTEMJob series aims to inspire a new generation of girls to consider these careers. I was stoked to talk about conservation biology and Y2Y. The films were developed through a partnership of Ingenium, Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, the National Film Board of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Canadian Museum of Nature, They were filmed by the fabulous duo at Mirror Image Media -- highly recommend working with them! They're fun, energetic, professional, and made me feel at ease. Watch all 20 films here (1 minute each). Meet a CEO, genomics specialist, astrophysicist, futurist, ecologist, mineralogist, cannabis researcher, paleontologist, disaster researcher, and more.
Informed Opinions Expert Women database (Canada)People listed in the Expert Women database are available for inquiries from journalists, producers, conference planners, recruiters, & research collaborators. Includes many disciplines (not just STEM) and sectors. Sign up here. Informed Opinions also a lot of resources. 500 Women Scientists (international)Request a Woman Scientist platform connects an extensive multidisciplinary network of vetted women in science with anyone who needs to consult a scientist for a news story, invite a keynote speaker or panelist for a conference or workshop, find a woman scientist to collaborate on a project, or serve as a subject matter expert in any capacity. Easy filters (location, discipline, under-represented minority, etc) and has thousands of experts listed. Sign up here.  500 Queer ScientistsUse the 500 Queer Scientists database to find experts who are LGBTQ+. Diverse Sources (science, health, environment)Search the Diverse Sources database to include more underrepresented voices and perspectives in your science, health and environment work on deadline. Includes multiple languages - currently has ~450 experts around the world. Doesn't have great search features (e.g., no way to filter by location, expertise, etc.). Sign up here. Diversify EEB (ecology and evolutionary biology)Diversify EEB database highlights PhD-holding ecologists and evolutionary biologists who are women &/or underrepresented minorities. Sign up at the same link. Also see Diversify EEB Grads (for graduate students). Women's Media Centre 'She Source' (multi-disciplinary)She Source is an online database of media-experienced women experts who can be connected to journalists, bookers and producers. Searchable database, including highlighting experts according to timely subjects currently in the news. Apply to be included in the database. Women Also Know Stuff (political science)The Women Also Know Stuff searchable database helps academics and journalists identify and connect with women academics conducting research on a multitude of issues related to the study of politics. Currently has >1700 entries.
A few years ago I was looking for a list of scientific journals that published commentary pieces (e.g., letters to the editor, essays, more policy-oriented pieces) for what would become Fox et al. 2015. I couldn't find a comprehensive list, so I started one. It's largely focused on conservation, ecology, environmental management, and sustainability science. Some articles are peer-reviewed while others aren't. I'll update it once in a while. Please comment with a link (or email/DM me) if you know of other venues and article types.
Also, here's info about open-access fees in ecology, evolution, & conservation journals (not sure who made it).
One of the best parts of my job at Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative is working with undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and other early-career researchers. This summer, Elvis Acheampong joined me in our Canmore office for his summer internship. Elvis is a Master's student at Yale University's School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, where he is studying Environmental Management. He wrote a blog post about his some of his experiences while living in Canmore and interning with Y2Y, including reflections on seeing bears, wildlife crossing structures, practical conservation work, and outdoor recreation here in the Bow Valley. Elvis has now returned to finish his studies at Yale. It was great to have him work with Y2Y! Update: Elvis also wrote about Y2Y research for the Yale Environmental Review:  Hiking in Kananaskis Country near Canmore. Photo by Aerin Jacob. It's no secret that my favourite animal is the western toad. Here's an article in a recent Y2Y newsletter where I describe why western toads are a fantastic species that represent so much of what the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative works towards. https://y2y.net/news/updates-from-the-field/species-to-know-about-western-toads Sign up for Y2Y newsletters here (Connections is biannual, Conservation News is weekly).
I talked to Sarah Boon, freelance writer for Nature, about why working on research with Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative is my dream job. Our conversation ranged widely, including the similarities and differences between research at an NGO and in academia, how I got the job (fabulous colleagues sent it to me and encouraged me to apply), and the kind of activities involved. It was fun for me to reflect on the first six months into my new job. https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v550/n7676/full/nj7676-421a.html Some of the things that didn't go into the final version include the importance of teamwork (my colleagues at Y2Y are fantastic), collaboration and sharing, and why practical conservation takes more than publishing research papers. Sarah later wrote a blog post about the interview and writing process. It was interesting for me to see her perspective, including the role of editors and why interviewees have to try hard - really hard! - to be specific in our answers and give examples. "Show, don't tell." Great opportunity to reflect on my own science communication. Follow Sarah on Twitter and her blog.  After work hike to West Wind Pass, near Canmore. Photo by Ross Donihue. This summer, Yale University Master's student Ross Donihue will be joining me at Y2Y for a Conservation Science Internship. Ross studies in the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and has a strong background in data visualization, professional photography, and mapping, especially through the organization he co-founded called Maps For Good. His primary project will be to map practical actions and strategies to improve human-wildlife coexistence, and to reduce conflict, in the Yellowstone-to-Yukon region. As well, I know we'll be grateful to have his photography skills and keen eye for design. Update 1: Ross wrote blog posts in June 2017 and December 2017. And took a ton of photographs and videos that we're using, especially for the Alberta Program and about road safety.
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