Half of Americans Have Little to No Knowledge of Grasslands, the Country’s Largest Natural Habitat

Key Findings

• Awareness of grasslands remains low: Only 16% of surveyed Americans say they have a significant or a lot of knowledge about grasslands, while nearly half (47%) claim having little or no knowledge.
• Perceived importance rises with awareness: At the beginning of the survey, only 31% of respondents place grasslands among the top three most important ecosystems, which makes grasslands’ overall importance-ranking fall behind freshwater (69%), forests (61%) and oceans (45%). By the end, after learning more, 68% of respondents rank grasslands as one of the top three most important ecosystems.
• Need for conservation is underestimated: Only 24% of respondents identify grasslands as one of the top three most threatened, placing them near the bottom among all ecosystems.
  
• Strong support for conservation: 71% are likely to support grasslands conservation. 47% think the future of grasslands directly affects them personally, and 58% believe their actions can make a difference in protecting grasslands. 

“Too often, our grasslands are overlooked and underappreciated,” said Brian Obermeyer, The Nature Conservancy's Great Plains Grasslands strategy director. “Yet, they are enormously important. Grasslands feed us, keep our water clean, store vast quantities of carbon and support rural communities, ranchers and Tribal Nations.”

In response, leading conservation organizations have formed the America’s Grasslands Coalition, with 10 partners leading the U.S. Grasslands Campaign to elevate grasslands as a national conservation priority. This public awareness campaign, with multiple waves during this summer and next year, aims to increase public understanding of grasslands and build nationwide support for their conservation.

“The good news is that once people get more familiar with America’s grasslands—which stretch across the country in areas like the Northern Great Plains, Flint Hills and Southern High Plains—they will be more likely to conserve them,” Obermeyer said. “Grasslands are at the core of our cultural identity and are home to iconic species of wildlife. We must take bold steps to conserve them.”

Additional Quotes from Coalition Members:

Bird Conservancy of the Rockies

“Grasslands are essential for all of us, from the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the wildlife we enjoy. Grasslands are part of the heart of our country and core to our lives. However, birds and other wildlife are declining at alarming rates, and our rural communities are disappearing. This public campaign shows that when people understand grasslands, they value them—we now have an opportunity to translate that awareness into meaningful conservation action that supports cultures, livelihoods, wildlife and people.” —Tammy VerCauteren, Executive Director, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies

Borderlands Restoration Network

“Borderlands Restoration Network is thrilled to join the America’s Grasslands Coalition for the conservation of our beloved native grasslands. We protect and restore the binational, biologically significant Sky Islands region and reconnect communities to the land through shared learning. Here, our expansive native grasslands are fundamental, serving as the connective tissue of the region, allowing jaguars and black bears to move and thrive alongside hardworking rural communities.”  —Rodrigo Sierra Corona, Executive Director, Borderlands Restoration Network

Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance

“Grasslands are more than open spaces on a map. For many Native Nations, these landscapes are ancestral homelands that hold deep cultural, spiritual and ecological significance. They are living, breathing ecosystems that are intertwined with our cultures, histories and ways of being. These survey results give me hope that, by raising awareness about grasslands, more people will be inspired to help and support conservation efforts that will ensure future generations can learn from and enjoy these landscapes as well.” —Antonio “Tony” Morsette (Citizen of the Chippewa Cree Tribe), Land Conservation Program Officer, Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance

Central Grasslands Roadmap Initiative

“This campaign reinforces what many of us working across North America’s grasslands have long understood: when people understand the importance of grasslands, they want to see them conserved. From supporting agricultural livelihoods and rural communities to sustaining wildlife and strengthening ecosystem resilience, grasslands deliver benefits that touch all of our lives. The U.S. Grasslands Campaign is helping build a broader constituency for these landscapes and creating momentum for the collaborative conservation action needed to secure their future.” —Maggie Hanna, Director, Central Grasslands Roadmap Initiative with Bird Conservancy of the Rockies

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

“Grasslands are home to some of the fastest-declining bird species in the United States. Increasing public awareness of grasslands is essential to mobilizing the science, policy and conservation action needed to reverse these trends.” —John Bowman, Director, Center for Conservation Media, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

National Audubon Society

“This survey sends a clear message: when people learn about grasslands, they recognize their importance for birds, people and the planet. Now is the time to build on that awareness. Public understanding is the foundation for the policies, partnerships and stewardship practices needed to conserve grasslands and support the wildlife and communities that depend on them.” —Marshall Johnson, Chief Conservation Officer, National Audubon Society

National Wildlife Federation

“Healthy grasslands are essential for wildlife and people alike, yet these vital ecosystems are disappearing at an alarming rate. The U.S. Grasslands Campaign will serve a vital role in elevating the importance of grasslands and drawing attention to the need for increased investment in and conservation of these landscapes.” —Aviva Glaser, Senior Director for Agriculture Policy, National Wildlife Federation

Southeastern Grasslands Institute

“The Southeast is home to some of the most biodiverse grasslands in the world, yet they have often been forgotten and are under-protected. This research highlights the power of awareness to drive conservation and the importance of recognizing grasslands in every region.” —Dwayne Estes and Theo Witsell, Co-founders, Southeastern Grasslands Institute

World Wildlife Fund

“Grasslands are among America’s largest natural habitats, supporting wildlife, food systems and communities across the country, but too few Americans realize how important they are. The encouraging news is that people are ready to act once they make that connection.” —Martha Kauffman, Vice President of WWF’s Great Plains Program.