Powerful Role of Grasslands in Mitigating Climate Change

When we think of climate heroes, forests and oceans often steal the spotlight. But stretching quietly across continents, grasslands – often overlooked and underappreciated – are some of Earth’s most powerful allies in the fight against climate change.

The grassland biome consists of vast open areas covered primarily in grass. Grasslands are the single most extensive land cover on Earth’s ice-free surfaces. Depending on their location, grasslands go by various names.

In the Midwest of the United States, they are called prairies; in the southern regions, they are referred to as pampas; in Central Asia, they are known as steppes; and in Africa, they are called savannas. The sheer size of grasslands worldwide makes them a significant powerhouse for carbon storage.

Grasslands are not as widely recognised as forests and coral reefs in addressing the impacts of climate change or mitigating its effects. However, research is growing on grasslands’ ability to mitigate climate change impacts.

Grasslands differ from forests in their ability to mitigate climate change by storing carbon primarily below ground. While forests capture 77% of their carbon above ground, mainly in the trunks, branches, and leaves of trees, and 23% below ground, grasslands store 90% of their carbon below ground in the soil and roots, with only 10% stored above ground.

Grasslands are maintained by grazing animals and frequent fires, but the stored carbon remains mostly intact during wildfires.

A 2023 report titled “Grasslands as a Carbon Store” from the UK reveals that Great Britain’s grasslands store more than two billion tons of carbon to a depth of 100 cm.

However, these grasslands are sensitive to changes in land management. This highlights the importance of protecting, maintaining, and creating permanent grasslands as significant carbon stores.

The WRI article presents five reasons for increased investment and protection of grasslands.

First, grassland ecosystems worldwide play a significant role in mitigating climate change. In terms of the distribution of terrestrial carbon stock across various ecosystems, grasslands account for 34%, forests for 39%, agroecosystems for 17%, and the remaining 10% is comprised of other ecosystems.

Several strategies can enhance carbon storage in grasslands, one of which is silvopasture, an approach that integrates trees into pasturelands. This method can significantly improve carbon sequestration, particularly in tropical regions. Additionally, grasslands exhibit a high albedo effect, contributing to the planet’s cooling.

Second, various grasslands support an extraordinary variety of animal and plant life, making them a crucial habitat. Grasslands in temperate regions can support up to 90 species per square metre. Apart from being home to some of the most iconic mammals, from bison in the Northern US to hippos and lions in the African savanna, grasslands also support many birds, reptiles, and amphibian species.

Third, grasslands provide an essential ecosystem that benefits billions of people around the world. They support habitats for pollinators, which can improve crop yields in nearby farms. Below ground, their roots, microbes, and fungi help decompose and release nutrients to improve landscape productivity. Their deep, strong roots prevent soil erosion and help absorb and retain moisture during heavy rains.

Fourth, over a billion people, particularly pastoralists, smallholder farmers, and Indigenous peoples, depend on grasslands for food and livelihoods. These people belong to the traditionally marginalised groups and live below the poverty line.

Fifth, communities worldwide have deep cultural ties to grasslands. From the Aboriginal Australians, Afar people in East Africa, to the Indigenous people in the US and Canada, many of their traditions and knowledge, such as controlled fires to prevent larger blazes, studying and observing nature to make farming decisions, these practices and more ensure that land is sustainably used.

As the climate crisis deepens, protecting, restoring, and investing in grasslands is no longer optional—it’s essential. Recognising grasslands as a climate solution is a decisive step toward a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable planet.

Learn more about the climate mitigation service of grasslands by browsing the links in the “Sources” section below.