INTRODUCTION: Life on Earth as we know it is under siege. Significant and probably irreversible changes to the natural world are now occurring. It is an undisputed fact that we are losing wild species in nature to extinction faster than in any geologic period since the dinosaur die-off roughly sixty five million years ago. It is also undisputed that ecosystem services from land, water, and air are degraded throughout the world and threatening food supplies, economic development, scientific advancements, and global security. The rapid advent of global warming and associated climate change makes the job of saving native plants, animals, and habitats even more difficult. Human beings need biological diversity to survive and prosper, but our natural support system is fraying.