In a world where scarcity of food, water, and fuel is an immediate challenge and not just a future specter, the maintenance of  biodiversity and ecosystem services is critical to human health and welfare. Th e climate change wild card adds insecurity as to what biotic resources and tools may be needed for human adaptation to food supply disruptions, ecosystem alterations, shift ing disease patterns, and other health threats. Th ere is great uncertainty about the future interaction between human health and changes in biodiversity. In many ways, we are collectively experimenting blindly with the ecology of the entire planet. However, we know enough to describe several major challenges and important research needs.