As the pace of human development accelerated and centers of civilization developed in the most fertile and cultivable areas of the world, wildernesses were regarded as unproductive and wasteful: forests had to be cleared, grasslands plowed, and wetlands drained to accommodate the world's growing populations. Even after the cataclysmic changes of the Industrial Revolution, there still appeared to be plenty of wilderness left to be plundered for its wealth of natural resources. As the scale of global environmental destruction has magnified, it has become increasing clear that the world's wildernesses must be preserved. This study reviews the distribution of the last natural refuges around the world and explains why they are vital for the health of our planet. It traces the process of global destruction from early historic times through its mass acceleration since World War II, and evaluates the steps that have been, and are being taken, to conserve and protect the world's fragile ecosystems. Lavishly illustrated with over 200 full-color illustrations, Nature's Last Strongholds is an important reminder of the ephemerality of the Earth's beauty.