Danger in the Woods

Pollen from spruce can travel up to 3000km and can survive up to 60km.  Field trials of GE trees can result in the contamination of other trees.  

"GE trees that are resistant to insects, such as the white spruce which is being cultivated in field trials in Quebec run the serious risk of reducing biological diversity in Canada's forests," said Greenpeace GE campaigner Josh Brandon from Vancouver. "The contamination of our forests by GE trees could have serious effects not only on insects but also on birds and soil organisms. This would have an impact on Canadian biodiversity from which there is no going back. Even the Canadian government expects that large scale use of GE trees would increase the use of herbicides and pesticides 1000 fold, from 2000 hectares to 2 million hectares."

Greenpeace has written to the Canadian government calling for an immediate end to GE tree field trials in Canada.  Earlier this year Greenpeace wrote to the United Nations citing the Convention on Biological Diversity and calling for a global ban on the release of transgenic trees .  In 2006, Canada authorized three field trials for GE trees: two trials for poplars and one for white spruce . All tests took place in Quebec at the Laurentian Forest Center that is part of the Canadian Forestry Service of the Federal government . Field trials of GE trees have been taking place in Canada at least since 1997.

"The dissemination of GE trees threatens the ecological integrity of our forest.  GE trees would further reduce the diversity of life in our forests.  Their ultimate impact on forest biodiversity could be catastrophic" added Greenpeace GE campaigner Josh Brandon. "In the face of all these risks, it is totally incomprehensible why the Canadian government continues to allow GE field trials. The only explanation is that the government is planning the commercial release of GE trees in the future, something that would be disastrous for biodiversity in Canada."