GE Trees Sway Under International Scrutiny

For Immediate Release 1 April 2006

Genetically Engineered Trees Sway Under International Scrutiny
UN Convention Acknowledges Threats Posed by GE Trees

Late last night in Curitiba, Brazil, the Convention on Biological
Diversity's Eighth Conference of the Parties (COP-8) passed a formal
declaration recognizing the threats posed by genetically engineered
trees and urging countries to take a precautionary approach to the
technology.

This decision states in part: "The Conference of the Parties,
recognizing the uncertainties related to the potential environmental
and socio-economic impacts, including long-term and trans-boundary
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… recommends parties to take a precautionary approach
when addressing the issue of genetically modified trees." [complete
wording attached following release]

This is an important step forward for the global campaign to stop GE
trees. The vested interests behind GE trees are extremely powerful
and have been very active at COP-8 working to ensure that the future
release of GE trees into the environment is unimpeded. They are
rushing forward even though the impacts of GE tree release would be
felt at global level and would be irreversible. The decision of the
Convention on Biological Diversity helps put the brakes on the rapid
motion to commercialize genetically engineered trees.

Geneticist Dr. Ricarda Steinbrecher of the Federation of German
Scientists commented, "This outcome represents a first step in
recognizing the risks associated with GE trees." She continued, "The
potential impacts of GE trees on forests and indigenous and local
communities globally are serious and given that we have insufficient
scientific data, it is crucial to halt all releases at least until
such data and assessments become available." Adding, "This CBD
outcome, recommending a precautionary approach to GE trees, will
assist NGOs and scientists alike in sending an urgent alert to all
nations to this effect."

"The fact that we were able to accomplish this much, given that the
CBD is under so much pressure from corporations speaks volumes about
how critical it is to keep GE trees from being commercially released,"
stated Helena Paul of EcoNexus. "We are now in a favorable position
to work internationally through the CBD process and hopefully restrain
those who seek, for reasons of profit, to release GM trees as quickly
as possible," she continued.

"GE trees are one of the most dangerous threats to forests, which
host most of the Earth's terrestrial biodiversity," stated Ricardo
Carrere, of World Rainforest Movement. "The release of GE trees will
inevitably and irreversibly contaminate forest ecosystems and destroy
biodiversity" he concluded.

A declaration issued by the Latin American Network Against Tree
Monocultures stressed that the release of GE trees "will worsen the
impacts of monoculture tree plantations," while at the same time
constituting a "clear threat to forest biodiversity."

"The STOP GE Trees Campaign will be using this victory at the CBD to
help build and expand the global movement to stop any further
environmental releases of socially and ecologically disastrous GE
trees," added Orin Langelle, Co-Director of Global Justice Ecology
Project.

On March 22, countries around the world raised the call for a global
moratorium on the release of genetically engineered trees into the
environment at the CBD's Eighth Conference of the Parties. They were
joined in this call by the International Indigenous Forum on
Biodiversity, Greenpeace, the Women's Caucus, EcoNexus, Global Forest
Coalition, ETC Group, Centro Ecologica and La Via Campesina
International and others.

Contact: Anne Petermann, Global Justice Ecology Project
Helena Paul, EcoNexus

Press Release issued by EcoNexus, Global Justice Ecology Project,
World Rainforest Movement, Latin American Network against Tree
Monocultures, STOP GE Trees Campaign, and Friends of the Earth
International.

# # # # #


Wording of the Decision of the Convention on Biological Diversity's
Eighth Conference of the Parties Regarding Genetically Engineered
Trees

Under Forest Biological Diversity (UNEP/CBD/COP8/WG.1/L3)

"The Conference of the Parties,
Recognising the uncertainties related to the potential environmental
and socio-economic impacts, including long-term and trans-boundary
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 the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological
Advice (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 organisations,
including indigenous and local communities, as well as relevant
stakeholders, to provide relevant views and information to the
Secretariat for inclusion in this assessment."


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