They also combat climate change by absorbing carbon from the air and storing it underground. Yet, even though they cover more than 50% of the Earth’s surface, just 12% of grasslands are protected, with conservation efforts often overlooking them. “We are advocating for the protection, sustainable management and restoration of grasslands and savannas globally,” Leonie Meier, WWF Global Grasslands and Savannahs Initiative Lead, told CNN’s Yara Enany at COP16, a conference of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, ongoing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, until December 13. “Our hope for COP16 is really that food system transformation is included as a key driver for sustainable development,” she said. Nature-positive food productionThe path to these goals, according to Meier, is through not just restoration, but the protection and management of what is already there.

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Persons: ” Leonie Meier, CNN’s Yara, ” Meier, ”, Meier Organizations: Saudi Arabia CNN, Grasslands, Wildlife Fund, WWF Global Grasslands, United Nations Convention, WWF, ” Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, COP16, Brazil