In this fascinating and abundantly illustrated book, two eminent ecologists show how the natural systems that surround us play an essential role in protecting our basic life-support systems. There are millions of species providing ecosystem services that maintain the quality of our air and water and the fertility of the soil, dispose of domestic, industrial, and agricultural waste, and protect crops from pests. The organisms upon which these activities are founded - although often microscopic, obscure, or bizarre - provide natural capital that is worth infinitely more than anyone has previously thought. ""Wild Solutions"" urges us to protect the biological wealth of our Earth from destructive human activity.