To learn about the benefits of GM eucalyptus visit the ArborGen website: http://www.arborgen.com/newsroom.php
"ArborGen trees will allow landowners to grow more wood on less land with fewer agricultural inputs, thus protecting our native forests and ecosystems." To learn about why the United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service doesn't consider GM eucalyptus field tests dangerous for the environment, google "arborgen USDA" and you'll find this notice: http://tinyurl.com/mutlmu Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Finding of No Significant Impact and Decision Notice 1. The field test sites are located on secure, private land in Baldwin County, Alabama, and are physically isolated from any sexually compatible Eucalyptus. 2. There is little probability of asexual spread since this hybrid Eucalyptus does not propagate readily without the aid of special environmental conditions. 3. Eucalyptus seed is not adapted to wind dispersal so the dispersal of seed is expected to be limited to the proximity of the field test area. 4. It is unlikely that viable seeds will be produced by the Eucalyptus hybrids in the field test, and it is unlikely that any seeds produced will be able to germinate andproduce viable offspring. Therefore, APHIS concludes that it is not reasonably foreseeable that Eucalyptus seeds will be spread by severe wind events and establish outside of the field site. 5. If any seeds were to be formed due to crossing within the field test, there is very little probability that they will germinate since Eucalyptus seeds have very limited stored food reserves, are intolerant of shade or weedy competition, and need contact with bare mineral soil to successfully germinate. 6. If any viable seeds were to be produced and grow into seedlings, they will be easily identified by monitoring the field sites and destroyed with herbicide treatment or removed by physical means. 8. Horizontal movement of the introduced genes is extremely unlikely. The foreign DNA is stably integrated into the plant genome. 9. No adverse consequences to non-target organisms or environmental quality are expected from the field release of these transgenic Eucalyptus for the reasons stated below. Paul Cherubini El Dorado, Calif.
