GUARDIAN OF THE FOREST is the only officially accepted, definitive history of the U.S. Forest Service's Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Program. First published in 1976, it was updated & republished in the 1989 Second Edition, at the request of the U.S. Forest Service, & is widely recognized as a valuable reference book about the CFFP Program & its advertising symbol, Smokey Bear. The new revised, updated & enlarged Third Edition carries the history beyond the 1994 celebration of Smokey Bear's 50th birthday. Profusely illustrated, the book tells of people who have worked with the Program, adoption of the Smokey Bear symbol, introduction of the live bear, laws & regulations governing the Program, the 50th birthday celebration, & the reasons for Smokey Bear's continued popularity for over half a century. The new edition contains many pages of additional text & illustrations. An Index has been included, by popular request. Order from Morielle Press, P.O. Box 10612, Alexandria, VA 22310-0612. (Tel. 703-960-2638).

Tran Van Nao (Editor) The last decade has witnessed a seriously increasing incidence of forest fires in many countries. Substantial economic and ecological losses have been incurred, although the estimation of total damage This has been due to the lack assessment has often been inaccurate. of standardized methods for collecting data on fire occurrence and area burnt, as well as information such as the value of the vegetation destroyed and restoration costs, and the implications for recreation, tourism and other social activities. The Mediterranean region was initially considered one of the most vulnerable to forest fires because of its' dry climate and strong winds. No region is immune to forest fires, however, and damage has been especially severe in areas where pine is the predominant species. Although forest fires are normally considered a national problem, they become an international one when they occur in border area forests or when the ecological impacts are felt over long distances. The potential for forest fires exists in every country -unless it is a complete desert - and for this reason, there is a need to promote better understanding of the fires, and closer cooperation between countries in controlling them.