African boxthorn is one of Australia's worst weeds and one of the most widespread.
"It's recorded in all Australian states and territories," Weeds of National Significance co-ordinator, Michael Noble says.
"It snares birds in coastal areas.
"In South Australia and Western Australia, it's growing right down to the top of the beaches on the islands where the seals and sea lions are pupping.
"Boxthorn is pushing aside the native vegetation which has traditionally provided cover for the seal pups from predators.
"And it has a great capacity to push aside native vegetation and out-compete it."
African boxthorn was declared a weed of national significance in 2012.
It's one of the most, if not the most widespread weed in Australia, Mike Noble says.
As Weeds of National Significance co-ordinator, Mike Noble has researched and written the manuals to help landowners manage African boxthorn across the country.
The manual covers everything from how to identify African boxthorn and its distribution to mechanical and chemical control techniques in agricultural areas and infestations along the coastline.
"African boxthorn was deliberately introduced to Australia from southern Africa as a hedge row plant and a for windbreak, to some extent" Mike Noble said.
"Australia and New Zealand are the two places where it is a serious weed.
"The rest of the world African boxthorn is not really known as a weed.
"It takes over large areas of particularly grazing land.
"It can exclude stock from water sources and shade, because it tends to grow under trees and around waterways.
"Also it harbours quite a lot of pests.
"From a horticultural perspective it harbours fruit fly, common house fly and potentially the potato tomato psyllid which is a major biosecurity threat to Australia.
"From an environmental perspective, it's a huge environmental weed.
"Particularly on islands and coastlines, but also in inland areas right through to the semi-arid zone.
"It is a hardy, drought-tolerant plant that loves Australia because our environment is similar to southern Africa, and probably much better for it, actually."
"African boxthorn is found in every Australian state but Tasmania is leading the way in management efforts, and this manual shares that experience in an effort to promote best practice."