Are river red gums being pushed to the edge?

River red gums, the iconic tree of the Australian landscape, are in trouble in many regions. Instead of majestic green and shady canopies, sad skeletons and wispy tufts of leaves bear witness to trees doing it tough. Why is this? Surely red gums are adapted to drought. Why are so many red gum communities showing signs of stress? What would happen if we lost our red gums? What is the future for a tree species that so strongly represents the Australian scene?