PLOWPRINT REPORT 2016

The Plowprint report by WWF International tracks the gross conversion of intact grasslands to cropland in the US and Canada from 2008/2009 to 2015. Unlike net conversion studies, the Plowprint counts land as converted even if it later reverts to grass, arguing that the initial plow-up causes significant, long-term ecological loss. The analysis uses federal satellite-derived data to identify conversion hotspots and emphasizes the loss of ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and water filtration. While noting that nearly half of the Plowprint area had reverted to perennial cover by 2015, WWF maintains that such restoration may not fully recover biological diversity or soil capacity. The document also outlines WWF's broader efforts to reduce grassland and forest conversion globally, specifically targeting soy, beef, and palm oil supply chains in Latin America and Southeast Asia.

• The Plowprint methodology tracks gross rather than net conversion, meaning land is counted as converted even if it is later planted back to grass, because the first plowing causes an ecological loss that is difficult to recover.
• The conversion of intact grasslands to cropland compromises critical ecosystem services, specifically the land's ability to sequester carbon, filter and store water, and support biodiversity.
• By 2015, nearly 50% of the land identified in the Plowprint had reverted to or been planted with perennial cover, with 10% in alfalfa and 40% in other perennial vegetation such as wetlands, shrublands, and grasslands.
• While various factors contribute to grassland loss, cropland expansion is a significantly larger driver of acreage loss than urban development, roads, or energy development; developed areas accounted for only about 4% of the Great Plains geography in 2015.

APA

WWF International (2016). PLOWPRINT REPORT 2016. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/193/97ckj5oype_WWF_Plowprint2016_FAQs_12132016.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. PLOWPRINT REPORT 2016. 2016. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/193/97ckj5oype_WWF_Plowprint2016_FAQs_12132016.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=PLOWPRINT REPORT 2016 |date=2016 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/193/97ckj5oype_WWF_Plowprint2016_FAQs_12132016.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2016plowprint, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{PLOWPRINT REPORT 2016}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2016}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/193/97ckj5oype_WWF_Plowprint2016_FAQs_12132016.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }