Why are grasslands disappearing so quickly?

Rapid loss of grasslands and wetlands: what's behind it

A 15-year global analysis has found that non-forest ecosystems—especially grasslands and wetlands—are being converted to other land uses at nearly four times the rate experienced by forests. The leading driver is agricultural expansion: demand for meat and commodity crops is pushing farmers and agribusiness to clear and drain these ecosystems for pastures and cropland.

These habitats are often overlooked in conservation planning, but they matter for climate and biodiversity in ways that are easy to miss. Collectively, they store as much as 35% of the planet’s terrestrial carbon and overlap with roughly a third of global biodiversity hotspots. Losing them therefore releases greenhouse gases and chips away at critical habitat for many species.

What the conversion looks like on the ground

• Wetland drainage for crop production and infrastructure.
• Conversion of native grasslands into intensive pasture or annual croplands.
• Fragmentation from roads and irrigation projects that open previously intact landscapes to development.

Why this matters now

First, carbon and climate: converting peat-rich wetlands and deep-soil grasslands releases stored carbon into the atmosphere, undermining climate mitigation efforts. Second, biodiversity: many of these systems are biodiversity-rich but support species not found in forests; their loss can push local populations toward extinction. Third, resilience and ecosystem services: wetlands regulate floods and recharge aquifers; grasslands support pollinators and soil health. Losing them reduces nature’s ability to buffer societies against extreme weather and food shocks.

What follows next

Policymakers and land managers will need to broaden conservation priorities beyond forests, improve land-use planning, and target agricultural policies to reduce pressure on these ecosystems. That includes better protections for intact grasslands and wetlands, incentives for sustainable agricultural intensification in already-converted lands, and stronger monitoring to detect and slow conversion trends before the carbon and biodiversity costs become irreversible.