Publications

NEW REPORT
The Global Status of Genetically Engineered Tree Development: A Growing Threat

The global release of genetically engineered (GE or genetically modified) trees is closer than it has ever been. This report examines the current global reality of GE trees. It documents the status of GE tree development around the world, in order to identify where the risk of GE tree release is most immediate. It also outlines some of the risks and discusses some of the most prominent proposed uses. Due to changes in national regulations, this report may be the last opportunity to get a snapshot of GE tree field testing around the world.

Click here to read the report in English, Portuguese or Spanish.

NEW PUBLICATION
Frankenstein Trees (2023): Genetically Engineered Trees Threaten Indigenous Peoples, Forests, Human Health and Mother Earth

Indigenous Peoples of the world have struggled to stop genetically engineered corn. Now we must stop genetically engineered trees!

Click here to read the publication in English, Portuguese or Spanish.

NEW BULLETIN

International Bulletin #1 (October 2023)

The global release of genetically engineered (GE or genetically modified) trees is closer than it has ever been. This advancement is a significant concern because the release of GE trees would pose serious threats to forests and other ecosystems, as well as to many local communities and Indigenous peoples. The environmental impacts could be irreversible. This International Bulletin (October 2023) provides critical updates on GE tree development around the world and serves as an update to our 2022 report “The Global Status of Genetically Engineered Tree Development: A Growing Threat“.

Click here to read the publication in English, Dutch, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish or Swedish.

NEWSLETTER (October 2023)

This newsletter from the Campaign to STOP GE Trees provides updates and actions to stop the release of GE trees around the world. Genetically engineered (GE, or genetically modified) trees pose serious environmental risks. While very few GE trees have been approved for commercial release globally, the regulatory landscape is changing quickly and research on GE trees continues. Now is the time to act to stop genetically engineered trees before they alter forest ecosystems permanently and irreversibly impact indigenous communities globally.  

The first two newsletters can be read here:

September 2023

October 2023

Resource Hub

We’ve compiled an international list of resources. While not complete and always growing, this is a great place to start learning about GE trees and the related issues of tree plantations and biofuels. (GE trees are also known as GMO trees, transgenic trees, genetically modified trees or GM trees.)

2023

New Study:

• Glyphosate and Fluoride in High-Hardness Drinking Water Are Positively Associated with Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka (2023)

New Reports:

• Friends of the Earth Europe: The Last Agricultural Frontier – the increase of deforestation in less-protected areas of Mercosur (2023)
• Genewatch: GM Trees. Can We? Should We? (2023)
• World Rainforest Movement: What you need to know about Suzano Papel e Celulose (2023)

New Video:

• Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN): Statement Against GE Trees and False Solutions at UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2023)

Resources by Organizations:

Global Justice Ecology Project (GJEP)

• Website Resources:
  • GE Trees and Global Warming: The Myth of Carbon Offset Forestry (2018)
  • Monoculture Tree Plantations Resources (2017)
• Fact Sheets:
  • The GE Eucalyptus Fact Sheet (2017)
  • GE Loblolly, Eucalyptus, Poplar, and Chestnut Trees (2015)
• Reports:
  • Genetically Engineered Trees and Bioenergy: A Growing Threat to Forests and Communities (2012)
  • Report: GE Trees, Cellulosic Biofuels, Destruction of Forest Biological Diversity (2008)
• Briefing:
  • UN COP-8 Briefing No. 2

Biofuel Watch

• Reports: 
  • Negative Emission Technologies: Can They Deliver? (2020)
  • Last Ditch Climate Option or Wishful Thinking? Bioenergy With Carbon Capture and Storage (2015)

Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN)

• GM Contamination in Canada: The failure to contain living modified organisms – Incidents and impacts
• Genome Editing in Food and Farming: Risks and Unexpected Consequences

Center for Food Safety resources on GE trees (GMO trees)

• General section on GE Trees
• 2013 Report, Genetically Engineered Trees: The New Frontier of Biotechnology

EcoNexus resources on the science of GE trees (GMO trees) 

• Steinbrecher, Ricarda and Lorch, Antje. Genetically Engineered Trees & Risk Assessment (2008). Published by the Federation of German Scientists. Presented at CBD COP9 negotiations on GE trees.
• Other publications on the EcoNexus website

Environmental Paper Network

• Report: Scorching the Earth (2022, 74 pages)

Global Forest Coalition

• Biomyths: Bioenergy carbon neutrality myth is a time bomb under proposed climate deal

World Rainforest Movement

• Website Sections:
  • Struggles against Tree Monocultures (2023)
  • Tree Plantations (overview) (2023)
  • GE Trees (2023)
• Reports:
  • GE Trees Research: A Country by Country Overview (2014)
  • An overview of industrial tree plantations in the global South: conflicts, trends, and resistance struggles (2012)
  • Ethanol from cellulose: A technology that could spell disaster (2008)
  • Transgenic Trees (2007)

Additional Resources

Additional Resources on GE Trees:

• Ceres Trust Fact Sheet on GE Chestnut Trees 

Industry Materials:

• ArborGen’s Eucalyptus Petition to Deregulate GE Eucalyptus Trees 

Additional Resources on Biofuels:

• Biomass Basics from Biofuelwatch, 2018
• Feb 9, 2015 Letter to US EPA from scientists on the dangers of wood-based electricity
• CARBON BRIEF – Report: Subsidize Should End for Many Types of Biomass