Humans depend on the natural world for food, medicine, energy, clean air, and water, protection from natural disasters, and more. Ecology also figures heavily in culture, religion, and traditions in all regions of the world; yet we are at a pivotal moment in history: habitat loss, movement of invasive species, and climate change have brought us to the brink of a biodiversity crisis that stands to compromise our ability to ensure human well-being and economic prosperity for all. MacMillan’s councils and programs deepen our understanding of ecological themes in literature, language, tradition, and more.