Water, land use change and 'new forests': what are the challenges for South-Western Victoria?

Land use change has occurred rapidly in southwestern Victoria over the last decade and is expected to continue, albeit at a slower pace. One of these changes has been the development of 'new forests', that is industrial and farm forestry plantations and environmental plantings. Some of the challenges that these land use changes pose for water and natural resource managers are discussed. Land use change is expected to substantially reduce potential water yield in four of the region's seven drainage basins (A).