Global Economics of Rangelands Restoration Report
About the project
Rangelands, covering 54% of the world’s land surface, are vital economic assets yet severely undervalued. They support 60% of global food production and provide livelihoods for up to 500 million pastoralists, many of whom live in poverty. Despite their economic importance, up to 50% of rangelands are degraded, threatening one third of the planet’s carbon reservoirs and one sixth of global food supply.
The economic costs of mismanaged rangelands – from ineffective grazing practices to conversion for agriculture or mining – are mounting. Shifting focus from short-term gains to sustainable rangeland management is crucial to preserving these critical landscapes and their economic value.
RANGELANDS RISING - Investing in Sustainable Global Restoration
As a joint effort by UNCCD, ELD, IUCN, GIZ and ILRI, the global rangelands flagship report has been launched at UNCCD COP 17 in Mongolia providing vital insights into scaling and financing the restoration of rangelands as a critical economic asset.
Rangelands are globally important ecosystems that support livelihoods, biodiversity, and ecosystem services, yet their economic values are often poorly understood. Knowledge of the costs of their degradation, the benefits of restoration, and the risks associated with investments remains limited. As a result, investment in rangeland restoration is low, policy attention limited, and governance gaps continue to constrain effective action.
Rangelands cover more than half of the world’s land and generate an estimated US$21–47 trillion in benefits each year, yet their value remains poorly reflected in investment and policy decisions. The report draws on evidence and case studies from different rangeland contexts to identify opportunities for scaling restoration, strengthening resilience and mobilizing finance.
Key findings include:
- Rangelands are highly valuable but significantly undervalued and underinvested, despite their contributions to food systems, biodiversity, water, carbon storage and livelihoods.
- Restoration can deliver strong economic returns, with returns often exceeding 4:1, while early action on lightly to moderately degraded rangelands can be considerably more cost-effective than restoring severely degraded land.
- Pastoralists are already frontline investors and stewards, contributing labour, knowledge, livestock and resources, but often capture only a fraction of the wider benefits their management generates.
- Governance and secure land rights are essential for successful investment, alongside strong local institutions and inclusive decision-making.
- Blended finance and public investment can help unlock private capital by reducing risks and addressing governance, tenure, infrastructure and monitoring challenges.
- Rangelands offer major opportunities for climate resilience, combining mitigation, adaptation and drought resilience across more than half of the world’s land.
- Scaling restoration requires a shift from reactive to proactive investment, including greater integration of rangelands into national budgets, climate commitments and long-term restoration strategies.
Discussion paper: The Business Case for Investment in Rangeland Restoration
The flagship report draws on the discussion paper The Business Case for Investment in Rangeland Restoration, which highlights the global importance of rangelands, and provides first insights into the economic rationale for investing in their restoration, and key enabling conditions for scaling up finance. The discussion paper also outlines concrete recommendations for policymakers, investors, and practitioners, and identifies areas where further research is needed - topics that the flagship report will explore in more depth.
> Access the discussion paper: Download <
This flagship report and discussion paper are a partnership effort of UNCCD, IUCN, GIZ, ILRI and ELD.
The flagship report and discussion paper receive generous financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
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