Murray Watt's grasslands opportunity

June 3, 2025

On the same day Peter Sainsbury’s article on endangered grasslands appeared, a critically endangered Leadbeater’s Possum was spotted for the first time in Kosciuszko National Park. The Biodiversity Council says this rare sighting highlights the need to conserve large areas of high-quality habitat, even where key species haven’t been detected before.

As Sainsbury points out, the biodiversity of the world’s grasslands supports over a billion people and stores a third of the world’s terrestrial carbon — second only to forests — playing a key role in mitigating climate change. Yet, grasslands face mounting threats. The World Resources Institute warns they are among the most at-risk biomes due to extensive loss, poor protection, and lack of effective management.

In Australia, Friends of Grasslands is calling for greater investment in protection, better management and support for pastoralists maintaining these vital ecosystems. With grasslands under increasing pressure, new Environment Minister Murray Watt has a clear opportunity to lead on biodiversity conservation and climate action by prioritising these often-overlooked landscapes. Their protection is essential – for survival of species, for climate stability, and for the well-being of future generations.