FrankenTrees: The Dangers of Genetically Modified Trees

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WORLDWIDE FOREST/BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN NEWS

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11/10/99

OVERVIEW & COMMENTARY

Genetically modified "FrankenTrees" are being haphazardly introduced

in many parts of the World, spewing pollen for hundreds of miles,

with unknown consequences. Such genetic modification to create

"super-trees" raises the "prospect of silent forests, devoid of

insects, flowers and birds." Natural forests provide far more than

timber, and efforts to replace them with sterile mono-cultures of

genetically altered trees must be resisted.

g.b.

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Title: Forests in danger from GM super-tree says WWF Field trials,

including five in UK, 'not properly controlled'

Source: Guardian

Date: November 10, 1999

Byline: Paul Brown, Environment Correspondent

Environmentalists yesterday warned of the dangers of genetically

modified super-trees which can cross pollinate with native trees over

a distance of 400 miles and which are being grown in field trials

without knowledge of the consequences.

Other GM modifications under trial raise the prospect of silent

forests, devoid of insects, flowers and birds. The idea is to create

super-trees that grow rapidly, resist rot, and defy insect attack.

The trees would be sprayed from planes to kill all life around them.

In a report published yesterday, the World Wide Fund for Nature said

116 trials on GM trees had taken place since 1988 without proper

controls or research into the effects on the wider environment.

Seventy of the trials are being carried out in the United States and

five are in Britain.

Francis Sullivan, director of programmes for WWF-UK, said there was

the prospect of large blocks of land in Britain and North America

being given over to one super species of tree, creating sterile

environments. "The genie of genetically modified super-trees is

already out of the bottle. We must make sure it does not get out of

control otherwise such trees could run riot through the forests of

the world without us knowing what are the consequences."

The report, which was written by Rachel Owusu for WWF, says that

commercial planting of GM trees is likely to happen soon in Chile,

China and Indonesia, despite the inadequate research into

environmental impact.

The report points out that pine pollen can travel up to 400 miles to

reach another tree, making it impossible to monitor the effects of

cross fertilisation on native stock. The organisation is calling for

female only trees to be grown to avoid this risk.

Scientists are also trying to grow trees with salt tolerance and

drought and frost resistance, which could thrive in more places. One

of the experiments in Britain involves growing poplars with less

lignin, the woody substance that makes trees strong. Removing some of

this would make the trees softer and easier to pulp, which would in

turn make paper cheaper to produce.

But environmental scientists believe that unintended side-effects

pose risks, partly because trees live so long and are known to adapt

to changing circumstances. For example, poplar trees bred in Germany

not to flower - so as to avoid cross contamination - did so years

earlier than they were programmed to do so, baffling the scientists.

GM trees that do cross fertilise with each other or with native

species could create super "weed" tree species which would displace

slower growing normal trees and at the same time destroy the habitat

of many creatures.

Trees provide food and shelter to many interdependent organisms

including insects, birds and mammals. Their root systems are often

vast and closely interact with soil organisms like bacteria and

nematode worms.

Mr Sullivan said: "We are not against genetically modified trees in

principle, but we want more research and above all openness about

what is being planned. We need to know the pros and cons, about the

dangers of cross fertilisation of native species, and of sterilising

large areas of the landscape. Does this mean greater profits for a

few timber companies, or more wood for all mankind? And are silent

forests a price worth paying for these advantages?"

WWF is contacting its network of 100 companies, which are already

committed to using timber from sustainable sources, to urge them t18%

ban GM wood products. Sainsbury is among the companies which have

already pledged a ban.

Among the 30 tree species that so far have been genetically modified

are apple, banana, birch, chestnut, elm, peach, pear, pine, plum and

walnut.

In Britain, Shell has been carrying out two trials of eucalyptus in

Kent to improve growth rates and examine herbicide tolerance. Derby

university has modified the paradise apple to examine resistance to

pests and diseases, and Astra Zeneca has had two trials in Bracknell,

Berkshire, with low-lignin poplars - those trees were cut down by GM

protesters in July.

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