Australia leads the developed world in tree felling and environmentalists have called for a national summit on the resulting increase in salinity. The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) has asked Australia's Prime Minister and State Premiers to hold a national meeting on the issue of land clearing. The organisation argues that 1999 figures show land clearing rates up by 20% to 520,000 ha. At such a rate, only Brazil, Indonesia, Congo and Bolivia clear more land than Australia. Tree felling reduces the impact of Australia's carbon sinks (see related story) but it also, according to the ACF, poses serious threats to the country's drinking water and agriculture industry.