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Aborgen, the worlds leader in GE tree research, is trying to get permission for certain GE tree test plots in Alabama--this is unprecedented and would be disastrous!
ArborGen, the world's leader in genetically
engineered tree research and development (headquarted in the South!)
seeks permission for GE Eucalyptus Field Trials of genetically
engineered Eucalyptus trees with confidential traits in Alabama.
Published articles and industry reports indicate these traits likely
include insect resistance and reduced lignin.
Forests of the Southern US are already facing
serious threats from conversion of native forests to industrial pine
plantations, with over 32 million acres of native forests that have been
converted to pine plantations in the last 50 years alone. Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson found that pine
plantations are 90-95% less diverse than a natural forest.
 Pine plantations are also proving to be a playground for
forests fires. As of May 18th,
319,099 acres of
forests have been charred in Georgia,
according to the Georgia Forestry Commission (http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html). Pine plantations are
providing the fuel that’s keeping this fire going, native pine forests do not
burn like this as they can contain fire naturally. The proposed GE Eucalyptus field trials are
especially threatening in this instance because eucalyptus are known to be at
high risk of catching fire.
Eucalyptus is non-native and in other countries where
eucalyptus has been introduced, they are well known for escaping and colonizing
native ecosystems.
The use of genetically engineered trees compound the problem
of pine plantations and chemical spraying.
Trees can pollinate over huge distances, so the impacts of genetically
engineered tree pollen from a test plot are felt when that pollen makes its way
to the natural diverse hardwood forests and begin an ecological collapse. The escape of traits like insect resistance,
reduced lignin, faster growth or sterility into our native temperate forests is
a major concern. This could threaten the very web of life of our forests.
The forest ecosystems and wildlife of the Southern U.S.
will be devastated by contamination with genetically mutated tree traits, for
once that genie is out of the bottle there is no calling it back.
In October of 2006 over 300 signatures were collected from
people all over the United States
to be sent to the United
Nation Center
for Biological Diversity. The
signatories called on the United Nations for a global ban on GE trees.
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