Checkbiotech.org, July 6, 2007

CALL FOR BAN ON GM TREES

[Rachel's introduction: World Rainforest Movement's Ana Filippini said, "Countries are dangerously ignoring the precautionary approach as research in genetically modified trees is currently being carried out in at least the following countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and U.S."]

New Zealand's experiments with GE [genetically engineered] trees are under international scrutiny as a threat to our trading-reputation as well as the environment.

Over 50 Indigenous Peoples Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations involved in meetings surrounding the Convention on Biological Diversity in Paris, have called for a ban on Genetically Modified trees and warn the current biofuels boom and the rush for so- called second generation biofuels will lead to dangerous experiments with these trees.

In an open letter to delegates at the conference, the groups called for compliance by all countries with the precautionary approach in regard to GM trees, as agreed upon at the CBD's 8th Conference of the Parties last year in Curitiba, Brazil.

New Zealand has already been widely criticised for supporting 'Terminator' technology which has been approved as part of the GE tree experiments here.

"It is vital to New Zealand's Brand image that we are not contaminated by GE trees and instead invest in sustainable forestry projects that can meet ethical and environmental standards," says Jon Carapiet from GE Free NZ in food and environment.

"We need to meet standards like those set by the Forest Stewardship Council, as away of ensuring New Zealand's forestry industry benefits from a move to sustainability," he says.

World Rainforest Movement's Ana Filippini said, "Countries are dangerously ignoring the precautionary approach as research in GM trees is currently being carried out in at least the following countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom & US."

"Last week in the U.S., APHIS (the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service), a subsidiary body of the US Department of Agriculture, approved a request by GM tree corporation ArborGen to allow their field trial of genetically modified eucalyptus trees in Alabama to flower and produce seeds," said Anne Petermann of Global Justice Ecology Project.

Trees are being engineered with unnatural traits such as the ability to kill insects, or have reduced lignin. Ironically, though GE trees threaten to worsen global warming by damaging the ability of natural forests to store carbon, companies propose to develop GE tree plantations as a source for biofuels.

Source: Scoop

Copyright Checkbiotech 2007