The
problems of GE trees and industrial tree plantations are inseparable
by Ana Filippini
- World Rainforest Movement - article published at ECO - COP9
During the side event organized
on GE trees and the negative impacts on monoculture tree plantations
one of the members of the Public Research and Regulation Institute
stated that GE trees and social
problems caused by plantations do not have anything to do with each
other.
But they do.
The genetic manipulation that
is being undertaken nowadays is aimed at consolidating and further
expanding monoculture tree plantations model. These are some examples
of the research that is being carried out:
- faster growing trees. This will
aggravate the proven impacts on water resources which would mean even
greater consumption of water by tree plantations.
- genetic modification aimed at
making the trees more resistant to cold temperatures, for the purpose
of planting them in colder regions and at higher altitudes in the
mountains. This would lead to social
and environmental impacts in areas that until now have not been affected
by the impacts of current tree monocultures.
- introducing genes that would
increase the trees resistance to the herbicide glysophate, which would
lead to even more serious social and environmental impacts as more
herbicide will be sprayed, leading to the destruction of local flora
and impacts on human health.
- developing eucalyptus trees
with a higher cellulose content for the production of cellulose for
paper and for the production of ethanol. This would mean reducing
the amount of lignin, the component that
provides trees with structural strength, thus making them more susceptible
to disease, as well as causing serious damage during wind storms.
The only point of carrying out
research into GE trees is so that they can be used by industry. The
only way that industry will plant GE trees is in monoculture tree
plantations.
It is clear that GE trees will
end increasing the already existing
social problems!!!
by Ana Filippini
World Rainforest Movement
article published at ECO - COP9
