Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh calls for grassland protection, highlighting ecosystem value through ‘Grasslands’ exhibition
In a news release published on 15 September 2026, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh said its scientists working on the global importance of grasslands are calling for stronger alliances to protect these crucial habitats.
The Garden said grasslands cover more than 40 percent of the planet’s land surface and have been important carbon-capturing systems for the past 10 million years. It also described them as ecosystems that support food production and harbour diverse wildlife.
The announcement is linked to the ‘Grasslands’ exhibition at the John Hope Gateway visitor centre in the Edinburgh Garden. Running from 31 July 2026 to 10 January 2027, the exhibition uses photographs, traditional craft pieces and illustrations to show grass diversity and ecological functions.
According to the exhibition information, grasslands occur on every continent except Antarctica and help store carbon, regulate water cycles and sustain animals ranging from pollinating bees to grazing elephants. Entry is free, and the venue is the John Hope Gateway Gallery.
The Garden said that in the UK alone, more than 97 percent of species-rich grassland has been lost. In the release, Regius Keeper Julia Knights stressed that this loss has meant the disappearance of vital wildlife habitats and carbon stores.
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