Abstract
Groundwater-dependent forests have periodic or permanent reliance on the capillary fringe of groundwater to augment their water requirements. Access to a water source that supplements rainfall does not preclude such forests from exposure to negative impacts from climate change. In drought years, groundwater drawdown can be accelerated, leading to marked reductions in streamflow. This is particularly noticeable in watersheds with strong rainfall seasonality. Here, we explore how climate change impacts such forests, what tools are available to assess the impacts of groundwater-dependent forests on the water balance, and what is required for the future management of such systems with progressing climate change. We illustrate these issues using three examples from Australia and demonstrate that multi-faceted hydrological aspects of forest groundwater-dependent ecosystems will require ongoing investigation to ensure water security and sustainable ecosystem functioning to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem services.