Introduction / F. Andersson and P. Lhoir -- Boreal forests of Eurasia / H. Hytteborn ... [et al.] -- The boreal forests of North America / M.G. Weber and K. van Cleve -- European non-boreal conifer forests / J. Timbal ... [et al.] -- Coniferous forests of the temperate zone of Asia / Y. Nakamura and P.V. Krestov -- Non-boreal coniferous forests of North America / R.F. Powers ... [et al.] -- The coniferous forests of South America / T.T. Veblen ... [et al.] -- Special aspects of the physiology of conifers / R.B. Walker -- Primary production, yield and carbon dynamics / D.A. Maguire, A. Osawa and J.L.F. Batista -- Water cycling in coniferous forest ecosystems / H. Grip and J-E. Hällgren -- Nutrient cycles in conifer forests / D.W Johnson and D.W. Cole -- Importance of conifer forests in a global economic perspective / R. Persson -- Silviculture and management of conifer forests / G.F. Weetman -- Nutritional management of coniferous forests / R. Harrison, J. Prietzel and R. Jandl -- Recreation in coniferous forests / J.A. Wagar and G.W. Sharpe.