Grasslands cover approximately 25% of the Earth’s land surface (approximately 3.4 billion ha) and contain roughly 12% of the terrestrial carbon stocks (1,2). Grasslands are dominated by herbaceous (nonwoody) vegetation and so—unlike forests—carbon within living aboveground vegetation is a small proportion of the total ecosystem carbon pool. Grasslands cover approximately 25% of the Earth’s land surface (approximately 3.4 billion ha) and contain roughly 12% of the terrestrial carbon stocks (1,2). Grasslands are dominated by herbaceous (nonwoody) vegetation and so—unlike forests—carbon within living aboveground vegetation is a small proportion of the total ecosystem carbon pool.

Grasslands cover approximately 25% of the Earth’s land surface (approximately 3.4 billion ha) and contain roughly 12% of the terrestrial carbon stocks (1,2). Grasslands are dominated by herbaceous (nonwoody) vegetation and so—unlike forests—carbon within living aboveground vegetation is a small proportion of the total ecosystem carbon pool.