One important ecosystem service required by all Australasians is water production. All land is in a catchment and the water that flows out of catchments is a critical environmental value. In many areas the natural flows are interrupted and the water is harvested for use by people, industry, crops and livestock.

The catchments selected for water harvesting are often forested because of the high water quality produced. Forests themselves use large quantities of water so water yield was traded off against water quality when these catchments were selected for water harvesting.

Fire can affect the water quality by the addition of ash and soil to streams. The effects of fire on the vegetation can affect water yields long into the future as regenerating forests use more water than older forests.

Similarly, flood events and dam failure can have enormous impacts on the surrounding communities.

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