Cranes are one of many species of concern around the globe that are closely reliant on wetlands. Of the 15 species, 11 are listed as threatened under the IUCN 2019 Red List: one Critically Endangeredrn(Siberian Crane), three Endangered (Grey Crowned, Red-crowned, and Whooping Cranes), and seven vulnerable (Black Crowned, Black-necked, Blue, Hooded, Sarus, Wattled, and White-naped Cranes); the other four are listed as Least Concern (Brolga, Demoiselle, Eurasian, and Sandhill Cranes). These crane species encompass diverse regions and landscapes, from the taiga to tropical broadleaf forest biomes. Cranes also are readily observable and charismatic because of their beauty, large size, unique calls, and behaviors. Moreover, cranes have a long heritage of cultural and spiritual values in manyrnsocieties. These attributes - wide distribution, wetland affiliation, conservation status, and societal values at local to global scales - make cranes ideal models and ambassadors for conservation ofrnhealthy wetlands and grasslands across diverse landscapes. The relationship between cranes and people is remarkably complex, with cranes and people dependent on the same landscape across the world.