COP 8 - Decision VIII/19 - Curitiba, March 2006

Forest biological diversity: implementation of the programme of work

(Relevant paragraphs on GM Trees)

Recognizing 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,

1. Instructs the Executive Secretary to continue his engagement in the Collaborative Partnership on Forests;

2. Recommends Parties to take a precautionary approach when addressing the issue of genetically modified trees;

3. Requests the Executive Secretary to collect and collate existing information, including peer-reviewed published literature, in order to allow SBSTTA to consider and assess the potential environmental, cultural, and socio-economic impacts of genetically modified trees on the conservation and sustainable use of forest biological diversity, and to report to the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties;

4. Invites Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations, including indigenous and local communities, as well as relevant stakeholders, to provide relevant views and information to the Secretariat for inclusion in this assessment;

Source: http://www.biodiv.org/decisions/default.aspx?m=COP-08&id=11033&lg=0