The conference title is taken from C.E. Lane Poole Western Australian Conservator of Forests 1916-1921, "when the people develop and forest conscienceness the position will be entirely altered.

Two major strands will be explored in four symposia to acknowledge:

1. an awareness of the economic and aesthetic value of forests and
2. the social and ethical responsibility of wise management.

Symposia will be:

1. Ecosystem health: an integration of history, society, economics and politics in managing Australia's forests.
2. Evolving sustainability.
3. Reconstructing pre-European forests: historical, anthropological and ecological perspectives.
4. Open sessions.

The conference will be held 12-17 September 2004 in the forest and wine-growing region around Augusta, Western Australia.