Introduction The biosphere is the “living sphere” of planet Earth. It is the most remarkable characteristic of our planet, and makes Earth unique within the planetary system. The evolution of life and biosphere began perhaps as early as 4.2 billion years ago, but by 2.7 billion years ago life had started to have a significant effect on the atmosphere, oceans, and lithosphere. It is the joint aim of research by palaeontologists and biologists worldwide to understand the multiple factors that control the processes of life. This research includes insights into the functioning and stability of palaeo-ecosystems, understanding of biodiversity dynamics over long time scales, and predicting future biosphere vitality. All these topics are inextricably linked. They require palaeontologists, biologists, and Earth scientists to work together at local, regional and global scales. Protecting the present biosphere, both for the advance of human society and as humankind’s natural heritage, is a responsibility of us all.