The Campaign to Stop GE Trees
Genetically engineered trees pose risks of contaminating forests, damaging ecosystems and harming communities
Donate
Latest News
Into the Wild: GMOs head for the forest
Lucy Sharratt is the Coordinator of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN), which brings together 16 groups to research, monitor and raise awareness about issues relating to genetic engineering in food and farming. CBAN is a project on the shared platform of...
WERU Interviews Members of the Campaign to Stop GE Trees
Common Ground Radio 14 January 2021 Producer/host C.J. Walke interviewed members of the Campaign to Stop GE Trees to discuss the history of the American Chestnut tree in our eastern forests, genetic engineering of American chestnut trees and the social and economic...
SLAPP Lawsuit Against GE Tree Solidarity Group
In 2020, Rainforest Rescue helped the Campaign to Stop GE Trees secure more than 120,000 names opposing the genetically engineered American chestnut for the USDA comment period. They helped us and now it's our turn to help Rainforest Rescue stand up against...
The goal of the campaign is to protect native forests, and to defend the rights of forest dependent communities and Indigenous Peoples from the unknown and irreversible risks of releasing genetically engineered (GE) trees.
WHAT ARE GE TREES?
Trees are being genetically engineered for traits such as faster growth, and disease resistance.
GE TREE NEWS
Catch up on recent news, events, articles and education resources about GE trees.
TAKE ACTION
It’s time to mobilize! You can help end the threat of genetically engineered trees.
GE TREES RESOURCES
Arm yourself with information about GE Trees (also called GM Trees)
Sign the Petition
Add your name to stop US government approval of the widespread release of genetically engineered (GE or genetically modified) American chestnut trees into our forests. The risks are huge.
If approved, these GE trees will spread their pollen and seeds freely. This would be the first GE forest tree released in the US, opening the floodgates to others.
It would also be the first-ever intentional release of a fertile genetically modified organism (GMO) into wild ecosystems, opening the door to other uncontrollable GMO releases.
Engineers think they can (re) create nature in the lab, but neither trees nor any species can be replaced by with GE facsimiles. Decades of progress to restore wild American chestnut trees would be lost. This is not restoration, but a dangerous open-air experiment.
There are no long-term risk assessments of this plan and scientists warn such assessments are not possible. American chestnuts can live hundreds of years and have deeply intertwined relationships with other trees, and with insects, songbirds and other wildlife.
Join individuals and organizations across the world in demanding the rejection of genetically engineered trees. We cannot allow this kind of dangerous experimentation with our forests.