Few Australian rivers remain wild, with most suffering the ill effects of agriculture, industry and human settlement, according to researchers at the Australian National University. Only three regions could be said to contain rivers in pristine condition: south-west Tasmania, where conservationists fought a battle to save the Franklin River from being dammed 15 years ago; the Prince Regent area in the west Kimberley; and Arnhem Land. The Murray-Darling basin - the bread-basket of Australia - was found to be one of the most disturbed areas because of farming and dam construction. The agricultural productivity and ecological sustainability of the river system is seriously threatened by spreading salt poisoning, caused largely by tree clearing, and the run-off of pesticides and fertilisers.