The present volume of the IUFRO World Series contains extended abstracts of the nearly 60 papers presented during the technical sessions of the IUFRO All-Division 1 (Silviculture) Conference held at the Hotel Mercure-La Grande Motte, in Montpellier, France from June 14th-18th June 2004. This conference, entitled “Meeting the Challenge: Silvicultural Research in a Changing World”, was convened to explore the changing role and expectations of silviculture to meet new challenges and societal needs around the world. Through their presentations of current research and subsequent discussions, conference participants considered how silvicultural research findings and new research initiatives can be best applied to solve emerging forest management issues. The event was jointly sponsored by our hosts in Montpellier, CIRAD-Forêt and the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), and the USDA Forest Service. Conference participants included over 70 forest scientists from 23 countries in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, representing a significant proportion of Division 1’s Research Groups and Working Parties. A superb in-conference field trip, organized by our hosts in Montpellier, introduced participants to the rich history, culture, cuisine, and natural beauty of the Camargue region.