An historical perspective of silviculture in the native State forests of Victoria is presented covering the impacts of European settlement, initiation of active management, the application of methods based on sound ecological principles and, since lhe 1970s, a stronger focus on social and environmental objectives.The development of silviculture in the major forest types is discussed, including: ash, Low Elevation Mixed Species, High Elevation Mixed Species, Box-Ironbark and river red gum forests. Organisational arrangements for implementation of silviculture are described, along with processes for development of new and improved systems. The ongoing trend to improve on-ground delivery of silviculture through the use of new technology and the development of performance monitoring and improvement systems for sustainable forest management is also discussed.

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Cover and abundance of all understorey vascular plant species were studied on permanent plots on two areas (Maramingo and Reedy Creek) in the foothill forests of East Gippsland, eastern Victoria. The areas were harvested for sawlogs and pulpwood in 1976, and parts were burned to assist regeneration. Plots were assessed before harvesting and at intervals until 1980. Changes in total species composition were minimal, although there were many positive and negative changes in crown cover and abundance of individual species. Total cover of understorey vegetation was reduced initially but recovered well on both areas. By 1980, cover at Maramingo was slightly greater than the low levels before harvesting. Some species there were favoured by burning while others were not. At Reedy Creek the original dense understorey had not regenerated fully by 1980. Snig tracks had revegetated to 60% of original average cover but log landings were slower to revegetate. Introduced species were initially a very minor component of the vegetation on both areas: they remained so at Reedy Creek (confined mainly to tracks) but at Maramingo three species proliferated along with other small herbaceous plants.

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