The Western Australian jarrah forest is unique, contammg some of the most beautiful flora in the world, more than 100 species of birds and some 50 mammals indigenous to this State. This book "The Jarrah Forest - A Complex Mediterranean Ecosystem" is a collection of scholarly essays on every known aspect of the northern part of the jarrah forest extending from south of Collie to the Avon River. All of the work has been researched by members of tertiary institutions, the private sector and government instrumentalities and was prepared expressly for this book. In the list of contributors are the names of many Western Australians who are in the forefront of their particular field. The book will be a very important reference work for senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions in Western Australia for many years to come. Additionally, it will have wide appeal to all interested in forestry management, both in Australia and overseas. I should like to express my appreciation for the efforts of all those involved in the conception and planning of this most valuable book. Perth, August 1988 Peter Dowding LL.B. M.L.A.

Project Vesta was a comprehensive research project to investigate the behaviour and spread of high-intensity bushfires in dry eucalypt forests with different fuel ages and understorey vegetation structures. The project was designed to quantify age-related changes in fuel attributes and fire behaviour in dry eucalypt forests typical of southern Australia. The four main scientific aims of Project Vesta were: To quantify the changes in the behaviour of fire in dry eucalypt forest as fuel develops with age (i.e. time since fire); To characterise wind speed profiles in forest with different overstorey and understorey vegetation structure in relation to fire behaviour; To develop new algorithms describing the relationship between fire spread and wind speed, and fire spread and fuel characteristics including load, structure and height; and to develop a National Fire Behaviour Prediction System for dry eucalypt forests. These aims have been addressed through a program of experimental burning and associated studies at two sites in the south-west of Western Australia.