Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems
Abstract
Groundwater dependent ecosystems represent a vital yet poorly understood part of the freshwater environment. It is only in relatively recent times that the role which groundwater processes play in maintaining these extensive ecosystems has been recognised by the scientific community. The policy implications, however, for both water management and biodiversity conservation are only just being appreciated. This paper presents National policy principles to protect groundwater dependent ecosystems and assist in the determination of the environmental water requirements and hence the environmental water provisions.