What exactly is a rainforest? Why does one type differ so dramatically from another? And what makes the rainforests of the South Coast, from Sydney to the Victorian border, so unique?
In this book, the author takes you on a journey into the rainforests of Southern New South Wales - exploring the plants, landscapes, and the long history of human interaction. Written in clear, approachable language, it strips away the jargon and invites you to see these rainforests with fresh eyes.
Far from being a guide only for specialists, this book speaks to anyone who has ever found themselves enchanted by the rainforest. Along the way, you’ll uncover over 35 easily accessible bushwalks, giving you the chance to experience the rainforest first-hand. Part field guide, part history, part personal journey, this book invites you to appreciate the unique character of the rainforests of the South Coast and understand why they remain one of Australia’s richest natural treasures.
$59.99
The Rainforests of Southern NSW - A Comprehensive Guide
Kevin Mills. Envirobook. 326 pages. $59.99
The Rainforests of Southern NSW - A Comprehensive Guide lives up to its title, containing a wealth of information on rainforests from Port Hacking to the Victorian border. Drawing on more than 40 years of his own research, the author has combined fascinating historical accounts of the rainforests as they once appeared with information on rainforest formations and plants that can still be found in the region, and the geological and environmental factors that influence which species grow where.
Following a brief introduction, the book commences with the earliest impressions of European explorers and settlers in the region, with descriptions ranging from the lyrical “…almost transcend the wanderer’s power of description by their marvellous and enrapturing beauty,” to the practical “…forms thick and dangerous woods to attempt a passage through,” and the humorous “…the vines and bush has almost stripped us naked.” Accounts of the original picturesque beauty of these rainforests make the subsequent accounts of logging and clearing all the more poignant.
Chapter 3 describes the features of the environment that allowed rainforest to flourish in an otherwise eucalypt-dominated landscape. Here the author has included information in plain English on the influence of geology, soil, topography, altitude, rainfall and fire. A sobering account of the 2019-2020 bushfires, which impacted 59% of the rainforests in Southern NSW, highlights the intense role fire can play in determining rainforest composition and boundaries.
Chapter 4 discusses the main features of rainforests and details the growth forms and structural characteristics that make rainforests so easy to distinguish from eucalypt forests, while chapter 5 includes descriptions and beautiful images of the plant species characteristic of Southern NSW. This section also includes useful commentary on a range of issues relevant to restoration, including plants that are regarded as weeds in some localities but form dense natural stands in others, and plants that have naturally unpredictable flowering and fruiting, a phenomenon that impacts year to year seed availability.
In chapters 6 and 7, the author provides simple and practical descriptions of the various types of rainforest that may be found in Southern NSW and the specific localities where these occur. The penultimate chapter describes 38 rainforest walks in the region, ranging in duration from 15 minutes to 4-5 hours. With information on the type of rainforest to be found on each walk, these pages will be of immense interest to hikers and plant enthusiasts alike.
This book is beautifully written in plain English and illustrated with hundreds of colourful photographs. The main text is interspersed throughout with detailed profiles on species that have particularly interesting features, such as the showy flowering of the Illawarra Flame Tree, the useful fibres of Settlers Flax, and the capacity of the Giant Stinging Nettle to inflict pain on the unwary. With additional information on the plant-animal interactions that are essential to pollination and seed dispersal, the book will be of value to anyone with an interest in rainforest flora and fauna and is a must-read for anyone wishing to work in the fields of rainforest ecology, conservation or restoration.
Dr Karen Sommerville
Rainforest Conservation Scientist, Botanic Gardens of Sydney.
