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10 November 1999
The Independent (UK)GM trees pose risk of
'superweed' calamity
Trials of genetically modified trees are rapidly increasing around the world without
proper controls, posing a serious threat to the global environment, the World Wide Fund
for Nature said yesterday.
Commercial production of GM trees is likely in the near future in Latin America and Asia,
the charity says, despite what it alleges is inadequate research into their environmental
impacts. It is calling for a global moratorium on commercial releases until more is known
about their possible effects, and a public debate on the use of GM tree technology.
Possible risks include the escape of insect-resistant genes into natural forest, which
could have a "devastating" effect on the insect populations vital to support
forest life, and the creation of "superweed" trees that would deprive all others
in the search for water and nutrients. "This is a global accident waiting to
happen," said Francis Sullivan, director of programmes at WWF-UK.
Already GM versions of at least 24 trees, including silver birch, Scots pine, Norway
spruce, teak, apple and cherry have been released into the environment, according to WWF's
research. Unconfirmed reports suggest at least another six species, almond, pear, cocoa,
coffee, elm and larch, are undergoing transgenic trials.
While public and media attention has been focused on GM crops and foodstuffs,
biotechnology companies "have been sowing the seeds of a quiet GM revolution in the
world's forests", the charity says. Leading firms such as Monsanto are setting up
joint ventures with forestry companies to produce millions of GM tree seedlings.
The new trees are being designed to grow more quickly, be more tolerant of weedkillers and
resistant to pests, and have different reproductive cycles and wood structures to assist
industries such as paper-making. But the new genes they bring may have unforeseen effects
in the forest that would destabilise the ecosystem and harm wildlife, WWF claims. Tree
pollen can travel up to 400 miles, raising a serious threat of genetic pollution, which
would be long-lasting as trees live for many years, it says.
In Britain, the charityis calling on the Government to take all necessary action to reduce
the genetic pollution risk, including the use of only female trees in trials. It is also
calling for environmental impact assessments before any GM trees are released
commercially.
Since 1988, WWF says, there have been at least 116 GM tree trials in 17 countries,
involving 24 species. In the past three years, the number has doubled, with 44 new trials
in 1998 alone.
"Once the GM genie is out of the bottle there is no going back," said Mr
Sullivan. "This technology must only be used if we are confident that it will not
have a negative impact on the forest, and on the wildlife and people they support."
Jean-Paul Jeanrenaud, director of the forests programme at WWF-International, said:
"It is far too early to judge whether biotechnology can make a safe and effective
contribution to the forest sector. Governments must declare a moratorium on the commercial
release of GM trees until enough research has been conducted and proper safeguards put in
place."
There have been five field trials of GM trees in Britain, all of which are now
discontinued. Three were completed normally: two trials of eucalyptus conducted by Shell
in Kent, one in 1993 and one in 1995, and a trial of paradise apple carried out by the
University of Derby in 1995. But two trials of poplars by the biotechnology company Astra
Zeneca, at Jealott's Hill, Bracknell, Berkshire, one due to be completed by 2002 and the
other by 2004, were destroyed by eco-activists in July this year. |