Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet

Most of Earth’s ecosystems are under pressure from human activity and climate change. A question that looms large for scientists is what this has in store for the planet’s flora and fauna, especially in the species-rich tropics. Our scientists study the resilience of coral species to disease, warming and acidification; they compare the biodiversity of 30 year-old forests to mature ones; they quantify the vital ecosystem services provided by nature to humans, such as mitigation against drought and floods, and ask what the future holds for our species and the countless others that share this planet.