Community | August 20, 2009 | 11 comments

The invasion of genetically-engineered eucalyptus

source: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_18881.cfm

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JanforGore
Here’s a great idea: Let's bring into our country a genetically-engineered, non-native tree that is known to be wildly invasive, explosively flammable, and insatiably thirsty for ground water. Then let's clone thousands of these living firecrackers and plant them in forested regions across seven Southern states, allowing them to grow, flower, produce seeds, and spread into native environments.

Yes, this would be irresponsible, dangerous, and stupid – but apparently "Irresponsible, Dangerous, and Stupid" is the unofficial slogan of the U.S. Department Agriculture. In May, with little consideration of the devastating consequences for our native environment, USDA cavalierly rubberstamped a proposal by a profiteering corporation named ArborGen to do all of the above.

Substantially owned by International Paper, ArborGen shipped tissue from Brazilian eucalyptus trees to its New Zealand laboratories, where it was genetically altered to have more cellulose. New Zealand, however, outlaws plantings of genetically-engineered crops, so ArborGen sought out a more corporate-compliant country: Ours. The engineered eucalyptus was waved right into the good ol' USA to be cloned, and it’s now awaiting final approval for outdoor release in our land.

This has happened with practically no media coverage or public participation. It is happening solely because a handful of global speculators hope to profit by making ethanol from cellulose-enhanced eucalyptus – never mind that their self-aggrandizement would put America's native forests in danger of irreversible contamination by these destructive, invasive Frankentrees.

Luckily, several scrappy grassroots groups have mobilized to bring common sense and public pressure to bear on USDA. For updates and action items, visit www.nogetrees.org.

"Public Overwhelmingly Rejects Genetically Engineered Trees," Stop GE Trees Campaign, July 16, 2009.
  1. groups:
    Community,   Green,   Current Tonight,   Earth and Science,   2 more
  2. tags:
    Environment,  Trees,  transgenic contamination,  USDA,  3 more
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11 comments // The invasion of genetically-engineered eucalyptus

  • Debrinconcita
    • 0
      Debrinconcita  

    • NOW THIS IS THE SAME THING AS THE STORY ABOUT THE ALTERED SUGAR BEET'S IN THE WILLAMETE VALLEY. These genically altered plants will over take and kill all the real native plants around them. Just so they can live, they will dominate the area? I hope somebody is going to do so about this irreversable mistake soon? OTHERWISE WE ARE ALL GOING TO BE SORRY, MOTHER NATURE WILL RETALITATE AGAINST OUR MISTAKES! With Global Warming, storms, temperature fluctuations,(abnormal one's) and other things we don't want to witness in our lifetime. I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO LEARN OUR NEXT LESSON'S THE HARD WAY. JUST LIKE WE ARE LEARNING ALL THE REST, SO FAR!!!

    • 2 years ago
  • cardell76
    • 0
      cardell76  

    • doesn't suprise me.. you'de think there'd have learned a lesson from kudzu......but no...they didn't...the companies just wanna make money...and washington lets them do just that at what ever expense...

    • 2 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  
    • Image

    • My original post on this with a bit more information.
      If these trees are approved for planting, they should be ripped out of the ground.

      excerpt:

      "The U.S. government is set to approve [1] a request from ArborGen, the genetically engineered (GE) tree research and development giant, for permission to plant 260,000 GE cold tolerant eucalyptus trees in 29 "field trials" across seven southern U.S. states. Approval of such a large-scale planting of these dangerous flowering GE forest trees in the U.S. is completely unprecedented. The GE eucalyptus, to be planted in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina, would be allowed to flower and produce seeds, enabling them to potentially escape into native ecosystems and forests."

    • 2 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • You're welcome. Just wish the media would cover it. This is something we, especially people living in the seven states they would be planted in need to know.

    • 2 years ago
  • reactionforce
  • fernweher
  • JanforGore
  • samthesixth
    • 0
      samthesixth  

    • Jan, I don't always agree with you, but I always read your posts. Again you hit it out of the park. You due much to raise awareness. thank you.

    • 2 years ago
  • JanforGore
  • JanforGore
  • csmonut
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