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Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 1999 8:07 AM
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GUARDIAN (London) Wednesday November 10, 1999
Forests in danger from GM super-tree says WWF
Field trials, including five in UK, 'not properly controlled'
Paul Brown, Environment Correspondent
Environmentalists yesterday warned of the dangers of genetically modified
super-trees which can cross pollinate with native trees over a distance of
400 miles and which are being grown in field trials without knowledge of
the consequences.
Other GM modifications under trial raise the prospect of silent forests,
devoid of insects, flowers and birds. The idea is to create super-trees
that grow rapidly, resist rot, and defy insect attack. The trees would be
sprayed from planes to kill all life around them.
In a report published yesterday, the World Wide Fund for Nature said 116
trials on GM trees had taken place since 1988 without proper controls or
research into the effects on the wider environment. Seventy of the trials
are being carried out in the United States and five are in Britain.
Francis Sullivan, director of programmes for WWF-UK, said there was the
prospect of large blocks of land in Britain and North America being given
over to one super species of tree, creating sterile environments. "The
genie of genetically modified super-trees is already out of the bottle. We
must make sure it does not get out of control otherwise such trees could
run riot through the forests of the world without us knowing what are the
consequences."
The report, which was written by Rachel Owusu for WWF, says that
commercial planting of GM trees is likely to happen soon in Chile, China
and Indonesia, despite the inadequate research into environmental impact.
The report points out that pine pollen can travel up to 400 miles to reach
another tree, making it impossible to monitor the effects of cross
fertilisation on native stock. The organisation is calling for female only
trees to be grown to avoid this risk.
Scientists are also trying to grow trees with salt tolerance and drought
and frost resistance, which could thrive in more places. One of the
experiments in Britain involves growing poplars with less lignin, the
woody substance that makes trees strong. Removing some of this would make
the trees softer and easier to pulp, which would in turn make paper
cheaper to produce.
But environmental scientists believe that unintended side-effects pose
risks, partly because trees live so long and are known to adapt to
changing circumstances. For example, poplar trees bred in Germany not to
flower - so as to avoid cross contamination - did so years earlier than
they were programmed to do so, baffling the scientists.
GM trees that do cross fertilise with each other or with native species
could create super "weed" tree species which would displace slower growing
normal trees and at the same time destroy the habitat of many creatures.
Trees provide food and shelter to many interdependent organisms including
insects, birds and mammals. Their root systems are often vast and closely
interact with soil organisms like bacteria and nematode worms.
Mr Sullivan said: "We are not against genetically modified trees in
principle, but we want more research and above all openness about what is
being planned. We need to know the pros and cons, about the dangers of
cross fertilisation of native species, and of sterilising large areas of
the landscape. Does this mean greater profits for a few timber companies,
or more wood for all mankind? And are silent forests a price worth paying
for these advantages?"
WWF is contacting its network of 100 companies, which are already
committed to using timber from sustainable sources, to urge them t18% ban
GM wood products. Sainsbury is among the companies which have already
pledged a ban.
Among the 30 tree species that so far have been genetically modified are
apple, banana, birch, chestnut, elm, peach, pear, pine, plum and walnut.
In Britain, Shell has been carrying out two trials of eucalyptus in Kent
to improve growth rates and examine herbicide tolerance. Derby university
has modified the paradise apple to examine resistance to pests and
diseases, and Astra Zeneca has had two trials in Bracknell, Berkshire,
with low-lignin poplars - those trees were cut down by GM protesters in
July.
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