What are grasslands and why do we need to protect them?

As you might expect, grasslands are habitats dominated by…well…grasses (and other flowering plants)!

These wide-open habitats form when the climate and soil conditions are insufficient for woody plants to put down roots. With limited rainfall and tough growing conditions, grasslands often pop up in the space between forests and deserts. Some grasslands exist for other reasons, too, like a landscape’s response to regular flooding, frequent fires, or harsh winter temperatures that keep bigger plants in check. Because grasslands stretch across the globe, no two are quite the same. One thing they have in common, however, is that they host an incredible mix of plants, animals, and human cultures. In fact, scientists have identified more than 10,000 species of grass worldwide, proving there’s a lot more to grasslands than meets the eye.

Grasslands are among the most threatened yet least protected biomes on Earth. They cover roughly 54% of land globally and are found on every continent except Antarctica. These vast ecosystems support remarkable biodiversity, provide critical goods and services to human societies, and play a major role in mitigating climate change. Grasslands are vital habitats for migratory birds, wild ungulates, native pollinators, and countless other species. They also underpin global food systems, producing staple crops such as wheat, rice, and corn, and offer grazing land for domestic livestock like cattle and sheep. In addition, grasslands supply energy resources, such as wind, while storing large amounts of carbon.

Beyond their ecological and economic value, grasslands are rich cultural landscapes, including for many Indigenous Nations and rural communities, and important spaces for recreation, including hiking, birdwatching, and hunting. Across the globe, grasslands are highly diverse, shaped by the unique plant, animal, and human communities that sustain them.

Carbon storage

Grasslands store approximately one-third of the global terrestrial carbon stocks and can act as an important soil carbon sink. Grasslands store a large share of their carbon below ground in roots and soils rather than in above-ground vegetation, unlike many forests. Because of this, grassland soils are estimated to contain up to several hundred gigatons of carbon.

Goods and services

Farming and ranching in grasslands

In addition to their ecological significance, grasslands are vital to people. The primary use of grasslands is agriculture. Grasslands generate an estimated $20.8 trillion in annual economic value through livestock production and other ecosystem services. In fact, 80% of the world’s agriculturally productive land is in grasslands, and they are crucial to the livelihoods of roughly one billion people. Grasslands provide the primary forage for grazing livestock like cattle, sheep, goats, and horses, which in turn supports the production of other goods like meat, milk, leather, wool, and other fibers.

The cultural significance of grasslands

Around the world, grasslands have long been integral to the cultural identities of many Indigenous and rural communities, including pastoralists like the Maasai in African savannas, nomadic communities in the Central Asian steppes, and Indigenous North Americans. Native cultures often foster deep knowledge and traditions surrounding the land, stewarding values of respect and sustainability. For example, the traditional agro-pastoral system developed by Maasai communities in northern Tanzania is widely recognized as a Heritage Area because of its synergy with the natural systems in which it operates.

Recreation

Grasslands offer many recreational activities, including hiking, horseback riding, birdwatching, hunting, camping, and other outdoor activities, depending on the landscape. Grasslands also attract tourists from around the globe. The African savannas host iconic wildlife—like lions, elephants, and rhinos—that attract tourists for wildlife watching and nature photography. In the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) in southern Africa, tourism provides essential support for conservation areas, allowing visitors to enjoy thriving wildlife while also supporting local and Indigenous communities in the area.

WWF advances global and local action to ensure savannas and grasslands are prioritized in conservation and development, protecting biodiversity, carbon value, and local livelihoods. We build coalitions, influence global commitments, and work with communities to prevent habitat conversion, promote sustainable land management, and restore degraded landscapes.

Protecting the North American Great Plains

The Great Plains ecoregion is a complex landscape of people and wildlife sharing land, water, and other resources. As such, successful conservation in the region requires a multipronged approach that recognizes and supports both the human communities and the natural communities that comprise this amazing landscape.

WWF is committed to supporting sustainable land stewardship of the Great Plains. One way WWF does this is by working to fulfill the vision of Native Nations, who have inhabited the Great Plains for generations and consider grassland conservation and wildlife restoration to be of cultural and spiritual significance. While Native Nations currently manage only 6.3% of the ecoregion, most Native grasslands remain intact. WWF strives to support Native-led conservation efforts by addressing the biological, social, and financial barriers to recovering bison, black-footed ferrets, and other keystone and endangered species.

Similarly, WWF advances sustainable ranching and land management through the Sustainable Ranching Initiative (SRI), which strengthens the capacity of locally led ranching groups through education, cost-share opportunities, ecological monitoring, and a robust community of practice. WWF also partners with landowners and managers to restore marginal cropland to grassland and rehabilitate riparian areas.

Supporting KAZA

In southern Africa lies the world’s largest land-based transboundary conservation area: KAZA. KAZA spans parts of five countries—Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—and conserves extensive woodlands, grasslands, and wetlands that provide critical habitat for lions, wild dogs, and the planet’s largest population of savanna elephants. KAZA is also home to approximately 2.7 million people, who mostly own livestock and depend on small-scale agriculture.

WWF helps people and wildlife coexist by working closely with government agencies, other conservation organizations, and local communities to reduce human‑wildlife conflict. This includes reducing depredation of livestock and preventing overgrazing of rangelands through improving management of livestock. WWF also works to maintain landscape connectivity across priority habitats like grasslands, so that critical wildlife corridors remain intact, and animals can use them to move between core areas while minimizing potential conflict with people.