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Challenges to the sustainability of agriculture are often linked to issues of natural resources. Diffuse pollution and eutrophication of water are caused by agriculture, making problems for users downstream. Biodiversity and especially the threat to it by climate change, land use change and intensification of agriculture in the light of a growing need for increased food supplies, is a pressing issue.

At an open forum session of the Co-operative Research Programme (CRP) Governing Body meeting in December 2010, participants learned about the pressing natural resources challenges of diffuse pollution and eutrophication, and the role of biodiversity in the sustainability of forestry and agriculture systems.

Presentations were made by external speakers from conferences recently sponsored by the CRP.  Their presentations are available through the links below:

• “The Role of Forest Biodiversity in the Sustainable Use of Ecosystem Goods and Services in Agro-forestry, Fisheries and Forestry”, from a conference of the same name, held in Tokyo in April 2010.
  Dr. Ian Thompson, Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Ontario, Canada.
• “Diffuse Pollution and Eutrophication”, from a conference held in Beaupré, Quebec, Canada in September 2010.
  Mr. Ray Earle, Water Framework Directive, IWA Diffuse Pollution Specialist Group Chair, Dublin, Ireland.