Since the Scots pine species is most important in Eurasia, it was considered necessary to involve authors from as many countries as was possible including Eastern Europe and U.S.S.R. During the 18th IUFRO World Congress in Ljubljana, Yugoslavia, in September 1986, details were worked out for the contents of this book.This book is a truly international effort, prepared in the traditional IUFRO spirit of selfless co-operation. In all, 24 authors from 9 countries are involved. Each chapter was reviewed by two editors from two different countries.