Why is conservation important for future agricultural production?

Rona Espalin: i wish i could elaborate but this is the question i have been set, for 10 marks :(

Darcie Peraha: Can you elaborate a bit? Do you mean conservation of natural habitats, conservation of soil or conservation of traditional crop or domestic animal breeds?Assuming the last, it is important because it can prevent crops and animals from being wiped out by a viral pandemic like H5N1 bird flu virus.

Michelle Sohre: The big issue, as I understand it, is top-soil loss. Simply due to run-off and wind, acres of top-soil are lost at any given time. This is the only part of the soil horizon that is productive. Therefore, if you lose the topsoil, you lose the farming capability of that land.

Christy Tirabassi: http://www.css.cornell.edu/faculty/hobbs/Papers/Ho... Visit that site!