World Rainforest Movement - June 2004

The debate on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) has until now largely focused on agricultural crops and much less on genetically modified trees. This is understandable, given the fact that there are already several GM crops being commercially grown in many places of the world and given that many of them are aimed at directly or indirectly feeding human beings, whose health is thus potentially threatened.

However, that does not mean that GM trees are less dangerous. On the contrary, the dangers posed by GM trees are in some ways even more serious than those posed by GM crops.

In spite of the uncertainties and potential risks, forestry scientists are busily playing with genes to "improve" trees. Of course, what they do in reality is to change some of the trees' characteristics to better serve the interests of those that fund their research, in order to improve the profitability of the businesses involved.

The fact is that genetically engineering trees constitutes a further step forward … in the wrong direction. Apart from generating new risks and uncertainties, GM tree plantations will exacerbate the existing impacts of large scale tree monocultures.

The aim of this book is to provide information and analysis-sharing on the GM trees issue and to thus serve as a tool for people who are trying to steer the world in the right direction. Another world is possible … and GM trees are not part of it.

Click here to download the complete text in pdf format (344 Kb)
(also available in Spanish).

How to obtain a copy

Table of Contents

Genetically modified trees: a step forward … in the wrong direction
Ricardo Carrere and Simone Lovera

1: Introduction
What is genetic modification?
The origins of GM trees

2: Unravelling the lies: Why GM trees don’t make sense
1. Faster growing GM trees will not help take pressure off native forests
2. GM trees cannot help reverse climate change
3. Genetically modifying trees for reduced lignin is no solution to pulp mill pollution
4. Insect-resistant GM trees will not lead to reduced pesticide use
5. Herbicide-tolerant GM trees will not lead to reduced herbicide use
6. GM trees will not clean up pollution
7. Risks of genetic pollution
8. GM elm trees are no solution to Dutch elm disease
9. Do GM trees make economic sense?
10. Do scientists know what they are doing? And should we trust them?

3: A web of actors: Some of the research institutions and companies involved
International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO)
ArborGen, US
Horizon2, New Zealand
GenFor, Chile
Aracruz Cellulose, Brazil
Nippon Paper Industries, Japan
Oji Paper, Japan
Tree Genomics, Biotechnology and Breeding Programme, Oregon State
University, US
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, US
North Carolina State University, US
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia
Forest Research, New Zealand
Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing
Department of Plant Sciences, Oxford University, England

4: Legislation, regulation and market forces
Convention on Biodiversity (Cartagena Protocol)
World Trade Organisation (SPS Agreement)
Some GMO legislation from around the world
Forestry certification and GM trees

5: Resistance is fertile: Protests against GM trees

Notes and sources

Click here to download the complete text in pdf format (344 Kb)
(also available in Spanish).