Bushland weeds: a practical guide to their management By Kate Brown and Kris Brooks ISBN 0957900112, published in 2003 by Environmental Weeds Action Network, 108 pages, colour, soft cover Price $A38.50 plus $A10 postage within Australia, overseas postage please request a quote

Western Australia has a diverse, unique and fragile plant community that faces a severe threat from environmental or bushland weeds, as well as from all other forms of 'development'. The threats facing these communities has lead to the establishment of volunteer groups that manage bushlands. But what are the best ways to manage bushland, how does one go about it? There are many questions asked by each volunteer group and it is very important that they receive the correct advice. Without the ability to identify weeds, develop management plans, obtain funding, record outcomes and then obtain even more funding, groups can become dispirited, valuable work can be lost as weeds reinvaded and resources can become even harder to find.

There is not a lot of information out there; good books are hard to find. With this in mind the Environmental Weeds Action Network obtained funding and employed a project office to work with land managers at bushland sites across Perth's Swan Coastal Plain. The objective was to develop strategies for effective weed management and this book is the culmination of that work.

The book brings together information on the biology and control methods for serious weeds in the Swan Coastal Plain and Jarrah Forest. It also illustrates, with examples and case studies, how this information can be used to manage specific weeds in particular sites.

There are chapters covering the control and management of grass weeds, geophyte weeds, woody weeds and the annual and perennial herbaceous weeds. Each chapter looks at the general biology of the group and then covers a series of detailed case studies. These are followed by tables of the species that are serious weeds of the region along with detailed information on their biology and up to date control information. These is also a chapter on weed mapping where the processes involved in mapping and the use of maps is described. The last chapter in the book examines herbicide use in bushland pointing out many of the restrictions to its use.

This is a well prepared book. It is illustrated with good quality colour photographs, clear precise drawings, and appropriate graphs and tables. Technical terms are well explained when they occur. While case studies are specific to particular sites, they illustrate very clearly the processes used in gathering and using information. It is a book that is a must for any bushland manager. The publication of this book was funded by NHT and the CRC for Weed Management.

Table of contents

• Introduction
• Chapter 1. The Project: Funding and administration; The sites
• Chapter 2. Managing Weeds in Bushland - Some General Principles: Gathering area - specific information; Regional information; Developing a weed management program; Implementation - taking an integrated approach
• Chapter 3. Grass Weeds: Impacts; Biology - why are grasses successful weeds?; Management and control; Monitoring and follow-up; Case studies; Weed management table
• Chapter 4. Corms, Bulbs and Tubers: The underground storage organs - life-cycles and reproduction; Management and control; Key points; Case studies; Weed management table
• Chapter 5. Broadleaf Herbs, Sedges and Succulents: Annual herbs; Perennial herbs; Case studies; Weed management tables
• Chapter 6. Trees, Shrubs and Climbers -The Woody Weeds: Impacts; Mechanisms of spread; Resprouting, suckering and apical control; Management and control; Case studies; Weed management table
• Chapter 7. Weed Mapping in Remnant Bushland: Equipment required; What weeds to map; Mapping in practice; Using weed maps; In conclusion
• Chapter 8. Herbicide Use in Bushland: Using herbicides in bushland; Duty of care; Personal care; Training; Legislation; Bushland care; Using contractors; Some herbicides used in bushland
• Final Note
• Appendix 1: Herbicide spraying contract
• References