Australia has huge problems with salinity, where previously dry areas were deforested and irrigated with water sourced from other areas (like the Murrumbidgee I

Australia has huge problems with salinity, where previously dry areas were deforested and irrigated with water sourced from other areas (like the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area). Saline groundwater rises to the surface and causes the top soil to become irreversibly salty. Re-forestation would solve the problem (deep rooted plants lower the groundwater level) but because the soil is salty, nothing can or will grow there. The areas are now wastelands, good only for salt mining. I remember some research was put into developing salt-tolerant trees specifically to solve the problem, not sure how successful it was.