Abstract
The value of the Precautionary Principle in setting quantitative standards for maintaining the health of the jarrah forest ecosystem in conjunction with a viable timber industry contributing to the economic well-being of local communities is illustrated. Brief histories of the concept of forest ecosystem health and the Precautionary Principle are presented together with a background to management issues in the jarrah forest and an outline of a framework for applying both the concept of ecosystem health and the Precautionary Principle to forest management. The discussion reveals that ecosystem health and Precautionary Principle can be used as quantitative bases for forest management in this cases, but that this has not yet been achieved.