We are indeed pleased to present here the fourth volume of proceedings of the Australian Conference on Cave Management and Tourism.     These conferences now provide an important forum for managers throughout Australia, while the published proceedings are rapidly building a body of valuable information for future use.

Distances and financial constraints somewhat limited attendance at this fourth conference, and that is to be regretted.     However, all present would agree that those unable to attend missed a valuable opportunity to see some of Australia's finest tourist caves with rapidly improving levels of management. At the same time, delegates will remember the remarkable hospitality lavished on all present by the Busselton Tourist Bureau, the Augusta-Margaret River Tourist Bureau, and many
others.

Although the Conference is perhaps the most visible function of the Commission on Cave Tourism and Management, there are others. A team from the Commission has recently completed a draft management plan for the Tantanoola Caves Conservation Park in South Australia; a further issue of the Cave Management Newsletter is in preparation at the time of writing this;  further management studies are now underway and will be reported shortly. Last but by no means least, arrangements are in train for the fifth conference to be held at Lakes Entrance and Buchan during 1983. 
We look forward to it.

Elery Hamilton-Smith

Convenor
Commission on Cave Tourism and Management April 1982