Diverted groundwater near mines may cause trees to die of thirst, study finds

Exclusive: report has implications for proposed Shenhua coalmine after researchers found changing water table levels can affect the ecosystem several kilometres beyond mine boundaries

Related: Uncertainty over Shenhua mine's effect on groundwater a 'huge risk'

A new study has found open-cut mines that modify groundwater levels can affect trees and ecosystems several kilometres away from mine sites.