Earth is home to a spectacular array of ecosystems, each with their own unique characteristics and benefits. Yet not all of them receive equal attention: Grasslands, for one, are often overlooked — despite their importance.

The world's grasslands are arguably the single most extensive land cover on Earth's ice-free land surface. Grasslands or "grassy ecosystems" — used here to encompass natural and semi-natural savannas, open shrubland and tundra (but excluding cultivated pastures) — are also incredibly diverse. They range from the Great Plains of North American and the Pampas of South America to the Eurasian Steppes and East African savannas (such as the Serengeti and Maasai Mara).

These ecosystems are critical for a wide range of plants and animals and for mitigating climate change. They also offer sustenance, income, cultural identity and essential ecosystem services, such as pollination and water regulation, to populations around the globe. Over a billion people directly depend on grasslands for their food and livelihoods, many of them Indigenous groups and other local communities.