Media
Release
May 13, 2010
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Approves Release of GE Trees
USDA Approves ArborGen's Request to
Plant 260,000 Genetically Engineered Eucalyptus
Trees Across U.S. South
Yesterday the USDA's Animal Plant Health
Inspection Service issued its decision to
approve the mass-release of over a quarter of a
million GE eucalyptus trees across seven states
in the U.S. South (Texas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia and
South Carolina), despite overwhelming public
opposition.
"We are very disappointed but not surprised
by the USDA's decision, which is likely to have
severe social and environmental impacts," stated
Anne Petermann, Executive Director of Global
Justice Ecology Project and Coordinator of the
STOP GE Trees Campaign. "The USDA's final
environmental assessment disregarded concerns
raised by thousands of people in comments
submitted opposing the release of GE eucalyptus
trees."
The STOP GE Trees Campaign, which
includes organizations, foresters and scientists
from across the U.S. and around the world is
preparing its next steps following the USDA
decision.
Simone Lovera, Executive Director of the
Global Forest Coalition said from her office in
Asuncion, Paraguay, "This is not only bad for
the U.S. This decision could open the door
globally to these cold-tolerant eucalyptus and
other transgenic trees which would have serious
impacts on Indigenous and forest dwelling
peoples around the world and lead to more
biodiversity loss."
Contact:
- Anne Petermann, Executive Director,
Global Justice Ecology Project and Coordinator,
STOP GE Trees Campaign, +1.802.578.0477
- Scot Quaranda, Campaigns Director,
Dogwood Alliance, +1.828.251.2525 x
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