During the International Botanical Congress in Edinburgh, 1964, Mrs. 1. M. WEISBACH-J UNK of The Hague discussed a plan for preparation by her publishing company (Dr. W. Junk b.v.) of an international Handbook of Vegetation Science. She proposed a series that should give a comprehensive survey of the varied directions within this science, and their achievements to date as well as their objectives for the future. The challenge of such an enterprise, and its evident value for the further development of vegetation research, induced the undersigned after some consideration to accept the offer of the honorable but also burdensome task of General Editor. The decision was encouraged by a well formulated and detailed outline for the Handbook worked out by the Dutch phytosociolo­ gists J. J. BARKMAN and V. WESTHOFF. A circle of scholars from numerous countries was invited by the Dr. Junk Publishing Com­ pany to The Hague in January 1966 to draw up a list of editors and contributors for the parts of the Handbook. The outline and list have served since for the organization of the Handbook, with no need for major change. The different burdens of editors and authors have compelled quite different timings for completion of the individual sections.

A. Preface and Introduction.- B. Kinds of Changes in Vegetation.- 1 Kinds and Rates of Changes in Vegetation and Chronofunctions.- 2 Differences between Fluctuations and Successions.- C. Methods of Syndynamical Analysis and of Conclusions in Vegetation Dynamics.- 3 Grossreste von Pflanzen, Pollen, Sporen und Bodenprofile in ihrer Bedeutung für Syndynamik und Synchronologie (Plant Macrofossils, Pollen, Spores and Soil Profiles in Relation to Syndynamics and Synchronology).- 4 Syndynamical Analysis and Conclusions by means of the Present Vegetation Status, of Earlier Records and of Repeated Studies on Permanent Plots.- 5 Special Methods of Succession Analysis in Eurasian Tundra Vegetation.- 6 Methods of Succession Analysis in Eurasian Steppes and Semideserts.- 7 The Use of the American General Land Office Survey in Syndynamical Vegetation Analysis.- 8 Die Bedeutung der Forstwii tschafts-Geschichte in Mitteleuropa und Frankreich für die syndynamische Vegetationskunde, (The Importance of Forestry History in Central Europe and in France for the Syndynamical Vegetation Science).- 9 Cyclic Successions and Ecosystem Approaches in Vegetation Dynamics.- D. Cytogenetical, Competitional, Allelopathic and Similar Causes of Vegetation Dynamics.- 10 Genetical and Cytological Conditions for Syndynamical Vegetation Changes.- 11 Mutual Influences between Plants, Allelopathy, Competition and Vegetation Changes.- E. Classification of Successions and of their Terminal Stages.- 12 Types of Succession.- 13 Climax Concepts and Recognition.- 14 Differences in Duration of Successional Seres.- 15 Special Russian Methods in Classification of Successions.- 16 Some Principles of Classification and of Terminology in Successions.- 17 Vegetationsentwicklungstypen, (Vegetation Development Types).- F.Productivity and Chemical Changes in Successional Stages.- 18 Primary Productivity of Successional Stages.- 19 Biomass Accumulation in Successions.- 20 Nitrogen Accumulation in Successions.- 21 Accumulation of Ash Elements and pH Changes.- 22 Vegetational Changes on Aging Landforms in the Tropics and Subtropics.- G. Examples of Fluctuations.- 23 Fluctuations in Coniferous Taiga Communities.- 24 Fluctuations in North American Grassland Vegetation.- 25 Fluctuations in the Semidesert and Desert Vegetation of the Turanian Plain.- H. Synchronological Vegetation Dynamics.- 26 Synchronologie während der einzelnen geologischen Zeiträume in Europa, (Synchronology during the Particular Geological Periods in Europe).- 27 Synchronologie einzelner Vegetationseinheiten in Europa (Synchronology of Particular Vegetation Units in Europe).- Index (Register).