Canada and the Northwest Territories just made a big move for nature — here's why it matters - Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

Y2Y celebrates this groundbreaking agreement, which prioritizes Indigenous leadership and conservation

Big conservation news!

On Feb. 24, 2025, the governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories signed a groundbreaking nature agreement, and we at Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) are celebrating this positive conservation news.

Why the Canada-NWT nature agreement is good news

This agreement will protect at least six percent of the Northwest Territories’ (NWT) land by 2028, with the goal of more than nine percent by 2035. A commitment at this scale will help Canada move toward its target of conserving 30 percent of land and water by 2030.

And this 10-year plan isn’t just about protecting more land — critically, it prioritizes Indigenous leadership in conservation and stewardship through support for Indigenous-led protected areas, helps sustain Indigenous culture and knowledge, secures key wildlife corridors, and takes real action for a more sustainable future.

Following up on the NWT: Our Land for the Future agreement signed last fall, the nature agreement commits necessary funding with an initial seven million dollar investment for 2025 to 2026, with up to $20 million in federal funding over time.

These funds will support Indigenous-led conservation, Guardians programs, habitat restoration, and wildlife protection efforts for species including barren-ground caribou and wolverines — who also move and migrate into the northern landscapes of the Yellowstone to Yukon region.

With the global climate crisis and biodiversity loss accelerating, conservation decisions like this are critical. The connection and protection of landscapes in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples not only safeguards ecosystems but also sets an example of how collaboration can drive meaningful, lasting change for both people and nature.