Washington, D.C., June 17, 2026 — Forty-seven % of Individuals are unfamiliar with grasslands—one of many nation’s most important and most threatened ecosystems, in keeping with new nationwide survey findings launched by the America’s Grasslands Coalition. Nevertheless, after finishing the survey, greater than two-thirds ranked grasslands as one of many prime three most vital ecosystems. The America’s Grasslands Coalition sees this as a promising signal that rising appreciation and consciousness of America’s grasslands is the important thing to catalyzing conservation motion. The outcomes are a part of a nationally consultant survey carried out by GlobeScan throughout April 16-28, 2026, with a pattern dimension of two,014.
A basis of biodiversity and rural livelihoods, grasslands play a significant position in supporting wildlife, storing carbon, sustaining meals techniques, and sustaining ecosystem steadiness. U.S. Grasslands, together with savannahs and shrublands, at present cowl practically 1 million sq. miles. And but they’re disappearing at an alarming fee, with solely about half of the nation’s historic grasslands remaining. This decline threatens wildlife, rural economies, and local weather resilience.
Key findings
-
Consciousness of grasslands stays low: Solely 16% of surveyed Individuals say they’ve a major or so much of information about grasslands, whereas practically half (47%) declare having little or no data.
-
Perceived significance rises with consciousness: Firstly of the survey, solely 31% of respondents place grasslands among the many prime three most vital ecosystems, which makes grasslands’ total importance-ranking fall behind freshwater (69%), forests (61%), and oceans (45%). By the top, after studying extra, 68% of respondents rank grasslands as one of many prime three most vital ecosystems.
-
Want for conservation is underestimated: Solely 24% of respondents establish grasslands as one of many prime three most threatened, inserting them close to the underside amongst all ecosystems.
-
Robust assist for conservation: 71% are more likely to assist grasslands conservation. 47% suppose the way forward for grasslands instantly impacts them personally and 58% imagine their actions could make a distinction in defending grasslands.
“Grasslands are amongst America’s largest pure habitats, supporting wildlife, meals techniques, and communities throughout the nation, however too few Individuals understand how vital they’re,” stated Martha Kauffman, vice president of WWF’s Nice Plains Program. “The encouraging information is that persons are able to act as soon as they make that connection.”
“As the US approaches its 250th anniversary, it is a second to acknowledge the landscapes which have formed the nation,” stated Ginette Hemley, senior vice president of wildlife conservation at WWF. “From iconic species like bison to the communities that rely on them, grasslands are a part of that heritage—and defending them is a part of our shared future.”
Further Member Quotes:
Chook Conservancy of the Rockies
“Grasslands are important for all of us, from the air we breathe, the water we drink, the meals we eat, the wildlife we take pleasure in. Grasslands are a part of the center of our nation and core to our lives. Nevertheless, birds and different wildlife are declining at alarming charges and our rural communities are disappearing. This public marketing campaign reveals that when folks perceive grasslands, they worth them—we now have a chance to translate that consciousness into significant conservation motion that helps cultures, livelihoods, wildlife, and folks.”
– Tammy VerCauteren, Government Director, Chook Conservancy of the Rockies
Borderlands Restoration Community
“Borderlands Restoration Community is thrilled to affix the America’s Grasslands Coalition for the conservation of our beloved native grasslands. We defend and restore the binational, biologically vital Sky Islands area and reconnect communities to the land by means of shared studying. Right here, our expansive native grasslands are elementary, serving because the connective tissue of the area, permitting jaguars and black bears to maneuver and thrive alongside hardworking rural communities.”
– Rodrigo Sierra Corona, Government Director, Borderlands Restoration Community
Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance
“Grasslands are greater than open areas on a map. For a lot of Native Nations, these landscapes are ancestral homelands that maintain deep cultural, religious, and ecological significance. They’re dwelling, respiratory, ecosystems which are intertwined with our cultures, histories, and methods of being. These survey outcomes give me hope that, by elevating consciousness about grasslands, extra folks can be impressed to assist and assist conservation efforts that may guarantee future generations can study from and luxuriate in these landscapes as properly.”
– Antonio ‘Tony’ Morsette (Citizen of the Chippewa Cree Tribe), Land Conservation Program Officer, Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance
Central Grasslands Roadmap Initiative
“This marketing campaign reinforces what many people working throughout North America’s grasslands have lengthy understood: when folks perceive the significance of grasslands, they wish to see them conserved. From supporting agricultural livelihoods and rural communities to sustaining wildlife and strengthening ecosystem resilience, grasslands ship advantages that contact all of our lives. The US Grasslands marketing campaign helps construct a broader constituency for these landscapes and creating momentum for the collaborative conservation motion wanted to safe their future.”
– Maggie Hanna, Director, Central Grasslands Roadmap Initiative with Chook Conservancy of the Rockies
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
“Grasslands are dwelling to a few of the fastest-declining hen species in the US. Rising public consciousness of grasslands is important to mobilizing the science, coverage, and conservation motion wanted to reverse these traits.”
– John Bowman, Director, Middle for Conservation Media, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Nationwide Audubon Society
“This survey sends a transparent message: when folks study grasslands, they acknowledge their significance for birds, folks, and the planet. Now could be the time to construct on that consciousness. Public understanding is the muse for the insurance policies, partnerships, and stewardship practices wanted to preserve grasslands and assist the wildlife and communities that rely on them.”
– Marshall Johnson, Chief Conservation Officer, Nationwide Audubon Society
Nationwide Wildlife Federation
“Wholesome grasslands are important for wildlife and other people alike, but these important ecosystems are disappearing at an alarming fee. The US Grasslands Marketing campaign will serve a significant position in elevating the significance of grasslands and drawing consideration to the necessity for elevated funding in and conservation of those landscapes.”
– Aviva Glaser, senior director for agriculture coverage, Nationwide Wildlife Federation
Southeastern Grasslands Institute
“The Southeast is dwelling to a few of the most biodiverse grasslands on the earth, but they’ve usually been forgotten and are under-protected. This analysis highlights the facility of consciousness to drive conservation and the significance of recognizing grasslands in each area.”
– Dwayne Estes and Theo Witsell, co-founders, Southeastern Grasslands Institute
The Nature Conservancy
“Grasslands are on the core of America’s cultural identification and are dwelling to iconic species of wildlife. However they’re more and more in danger. We should take daring steps to preserve and improve our grasslands in order that nature and other people thrive.”
– Brian Obermeyer, Nice Plains Grasslands Technique Director, The Nature Conservancy
Concerning the survey
The survey was carried out by GlobeScan, an impartial consultancy, throughout April 16-28, 2026. A complete of two,014 respondents had been surveyed throughout the US. The pattern is nationally consultant, with quotas aligned to U.S. inhabitants distributions by age, gender, training degree, and state.
Concerning the America’s Grasslands Coalition
The America’s Grasslands Coalition was established in 2023 as a collaboration to raise the significance of grasslands. Ten organizations inside the Coalition are main the US Grasslands Marketing campaign, supported by a broader community of members and companions aligned with this effort. The Coalition will proceed to develop as further organizations formally be part of and contribute sources to this work. Present organizations concerned within the US Grasslands Marketing campaign embrace:
-
Chook Conservancy of the Rockies
-
Borderlands Restoration Community
-
Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance
-
Central Grasslands Roadmap Initiative
-
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
-
Nationwide Audubon Society
-
Nationwide Wildlife Federation
-
Southeastern Grasslands Institute
-
The Nature Conservancy
-
World Wildlife Fund
