Context <p>In Uruguay, over one-third of native grasslands have been converted to industrial agriculture and forestry during the last 30&#xa0;years. These changes have wide-ranging environmental and socioeconomic consequences, but they are rarely analyzed together. Understanding the coupled ecological and social dynamics of grassland change is essential for landscape ecology and sustainable land management.</p> Objectives <p>We examine how land-use change interacts with structural social variables to shape grassland dynamics. Specifically, we aim to identify patterns of agricultural intensification, link them to socioeconomic shifts, and assess their implications for grassland loss and fragmentation.</p> Methods <p>We combined national agricultural census data with land-use maps at a regional scale. Spatial analysis was used to trace land-use transitions, identify intensification pathways, and relate them to proxies of social and economic change.</p> Results <p>We identified five distinct intensification pathways associated with specific land-use trends and structural changes in the rural sector. Across pathways, we observed a general pattern of grassland loss and fragmentation, including in areas with lower intensification. Key drivers included livestock management shifts, forestry expansion, and changes in farm size distribution. Our framework allows for spatial visualization of intensification patterns, clarifying where and how pressures on native grasslands unfold. These results highlight the interplay between ecological processes and social transformations in shaping landscapes.</p> Conclusions <p>By bridging ecological and social perspectives, this study provides an integrated understanding of grassland change in Uruguay. The findings underline the need for landscape management strategies that consider both biodiversity conservation and rural social structures. The framework developed here may inform regional planning and contribute to broader discussions on sustainable land-use transitions.</p>