Grasslands and wetlands are being converted into agricultural land at an alarming pace nearly four times faster than forests according to a new international study that highlights a major blind spot in global conservation efforts.
The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first to comprehensively map where, why and how quickly natural non-forest ecosystems have been transformed into cropland and pasture worldwide. Conducted by an international team that includes Professor Martin Persson of Chalmers University of Technology, the study reveals that these ecologically vital landscapes are vanishing at a far greater rate than previously understood.
While deforestation has long dominated environmental debates, the researchers argue that grasslands and wetlands often overlooked in global climate and biodiversity strategies are facing equally severe pressure. Between 2005 and 2020, these ecosystems were converted to agricultural use almost four times faster than wooded areas.
Grasslands are critical carbon sinks, storing between 20 and 35 percent of the world’s sequestered carbon. They also host roughly one-third of global biodiversity hotspots. Beyond their climate function, they provide essential services including water regulation, soil protection and habitats for countless species.
Yet rising demand for agricultural products is accelerating their destruction. The expansion of pastureland for meat and milk production emerged as the most significant driver of land-use change. Increasing global demand for cereals, nuts and oilseeds has further intensified the conversion of natural landscapes into cropland.
The analysis shows that Brazil accounts for 13 percent of the total area affected during the 15-year study period, the highest share globally. It is followed by Russia, India, China and the United States, each contributing around six percent of the total conversion.
Unlike deforestation, which is often concentrated in tropical regions, the expansion of agricultural land into grasslands and other non-forest ecosystems is occurring across a broader geographical range, including temperate regions and parts of the European Union. This shift underscores the global nature of the drivers behind ecosystem loss — particularly international trade and supply chains linked to food, feed and bioenergy production.
The researchers warn that current conservation strategies, which heavily prioritize forest protection, may fail to address the broader picture of land-use change. They call for more comprehensive policies that include grasslands and wetlands, alongside better coordination across global supply chains. Greater accountability from both producers and consumers, they argue, will be essential to slow the rapid degradation of these ecosystems.
By identifying where agricultural expansion is encroaching most aggressively on natural non-forest areas, the study offers policymakers a clearer roadmap for targeted protection. Without swift action, scientists caution, the continued loss of grasslands and wetlands could undermine biodiversity, weaken carbon storage capacity and further accelerate climate change.
The findings highlight a pressing reality: protecting the planet’s forests alone will not be enough. Safeguarding grasslands and wetlands must now become a central pillar of global environmental policy.