Abstract
Conservation has been losing a race with humanity's development of the world. Now is a time for optimism as society increasingly explores a different future, one with nature at the centre. To succeed requires achieving conservation at the scale that nature needs and moving beyond protected areas to functional ecological networks such as envisioned in the mission of Yellowstone to Yukon, to protect and connect one of the world's most intact mountain ecosystems so people and nature can thrive. Across Y2Y, we have made significant progress with the expansion of protected areas, recovery of some species, and restoration of key lands. Progress occurs because of partners coming together and identifying shared priorities to advance. This serves as the basis for a case as to why decision-makers should support such priorities, and supports enabling local communities, regional citizens, and sometimes even national and international voices to support the conservation priority to advance. One recent shift in recent years is the rise of Indigenous-led conservation. To date, three new areas where Indigenous Conserved and Protected Areas have been announced across Y2Y, point to a new and more inclusive way to move conservation forward in the Y2Y region and around the world.