Open letter on GE tree research to the President of Chile,
Mrs Michelle Bachelet

January 2008

Ms. Michelle Bachelet
President of the Republic
La Moneda Palace
Santiago, Chile

Mr. Alejandro Foxley Rioseco,
Minister of Foreign Affairs

Ms. Ana Lya Uriarte
Minister of the Environment

Mr. Álvaro Fuentealba
Cabinet Chief

15 January 2008

Dear madams/sirs:

We are writing to express our deep concern over the research being carried out in your country on the genetic modification of trees.

Our concern is based, first of all, on the fact that the genetic manipulation being undertaken is aimed at consolidating and further expanding a model of monoculture tree plantations that has already proven to result in serious social and environmental impacts.

In addition, the use of transgenic trees will further aggravate the proven impacts on water resources, since one of the traits that researchers are attempting to introduce is faster growth, which would mean even greater consumption of water by tree plantations.

At the same time, research is being undertaken to introduce genes that will make the trees more resistant to cold temperatures, for the purpose of being able to plant them further south in the country 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.

Research is also underway to develop trees with insecticidal properties, in order to make them resistant to the pine shoot moth (Ryacionia buoliana). This could result in the death of a large number of other insect species, with consequent impacts on local fauna food chains and perhaps even on the pollenization of native flora species that depend on these insects.

It is important to note that the last Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP-8) adopted decision VIII/19 (Forest biological diversity: implementation of the programme of work), which “recommends Parties to take a precautionary approach when addressing the issue of genetically modified trees.”

This decision is founded on COP-8’s recognition of “the uncertainties related to the potential environmental and socio-economic impacts, including long-term and transboundary impacts, of genetically modified trees on global forest biological diversity, as well as on the livelihoods of indigenous and local communities, and given the absence of reliable data and of capacity in some countries to undertake risk assessments and to evaluate those potential impacts.”

We therefore wish to call upon your government to heed this decision and adopt “a precautionary approach when addressing the issue of genetically modified trees,” by ordering the suspension of the research currently underway until the uncertainties expressed by COP-8 regarding its potential impacts have been clarified.

Yours very sincerely,

Ana Filippini
for the Latin American Network Against Monoculture Tree Plantations