Dryland pastoral systems occupy 41% of the earth's land area and support the livelihoods of over 2 billion people. However, desertification is reducing the capacity of these systems to support livelihoods. Well-managed grasslands and rangelands can store large amounts of carbon, mitigate climate change impacts, and support pastoral livelihoods. A globally coordinated effort is needed to overcome socioeconomic barriers and support sustainable grassland management through incentives, pro-poor policies, integrated multi-stakeholder processes, and targeted research.