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.