KI forestry prompts water, vegetation worries
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Blue gums on Kangaroo Island .. water, native vegetation concerns (ABC TV)
Kangaroo Island's Natural Resources Management Board says forestry on the Island is expanding rapidly and could affect water supplies and native vegetation.
Board member Janice Kelly says four forestry companies are managing about 15,000 hectares of blue gums.
"We are concerned about that because ... we don't really know what the impact on native vegetation will be, what the impact will be on stream flows, so there are things I think we need to be very wary of," she said.
Ms Kelly says water use for forestry needs to be considered by the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation.
"I think there's enough evidence to show that blue gums in particular are water users - I think that's recognised Australia-wide and I think the forestry industry over here is expanding at quite a dramatic rate."
