Published by National Geographic Partners, LLC

1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036

Copyright © 2020 Enric Sala. Foreword copyright © 2020 A. G. Carrick Ltd. Introduction copyright © 2020 Edward O. Wilson. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC and Yellow Border Design are trademarks of the National Geographic Society, used under license.

COVER AND CHAPTER OPENER ILLUSTRATIONS: Spring Stories, Life in the Tropics, Tropical Desire, and Inhabitants of the Sea patterns © Piñata/www.youworkforthem.com.

PHOTO INSERT: 1, Jim Richardson/National Geographic Image Collection (NGIC); 2 (UP), Enric Sala; 2 (LO), Michael Nichols/NGIC; 3 (UP), Aleksander Bolbot/Shutterstock; 3 (LO), Fraser Hall/robertharding/NGIC; 4, Thomas P. Peschak/NGIC; 5 (BOTH), Octavio Aburto; 6-7, Science Source; 8 (UP), Mattias Klum/NGIC; 8 (LO), Konrad Wothe/Minden Pictures; 9 (UP), Norbert Rosing/NGIC; 9 (LO), Cagan H. Sekercioglu/NGIC; 10 (UP), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Image by Reto Stôkli (land surface, shallow water, clouds). Enhancements by Robert Simmon (ocean color, compositing, 3D globes, animation). Data and technical support: MODIS Land Group; MODIS Science Data Support Team; MODIS Atmosphere Group; MODIS Ocean Group Additional data: USGS EROS Data Center (topography); USGS Terrestrial Remote Sensing Flagstaff Field Center (Antarctica); Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (city lights); 10 (LO), Brian Skerry/NGIC; 11 (UP), Xose Manuel Casal Luis/Alamy Stock Photo; 11 (LO), Cyril Ruoso/Minden Pictures; 12-13, Art: Beau Daniels. Sources: Suzanne Simard and Camille Defrenne, University of British Columbia; Kevin Beiler, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development; 14 (UP), C.R. Burrell; 14 (LO), Tom Murphy/NGIC; 15, Colin Monteath/age fotostock; 16, Enric Sala.

ISBN 9781426221019

Ebook ISBN 9781426221026

Financially supported by the National Geographic Society.

Since 1888, the National Geographic Society has funded more than 13,000 research, exploration, and preservation projects around the world. National Geographic Partners distributes a portion of the funds it receives from your purchase to National Geographic Society to support programs including the conservation of animals and their habitats.

Get closer to National Geographic explorers and photographers, and connect with our global community. Join us today at nationalgeographic.com/join

For rights or permissions inquiries, please contact National Geographic Books Subsidiary Rights: bookrights@natgeo.com

Interior design: Melissa Farris and Nicole Miller

20/PCML/1

a_prh_5.6.0_c0_r1