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GM
trees are a false option, Biodiversity is the solution
12 December 2004 Press Release In the beginning of this year three environmental organisations launched the Internet action for protesting the GM trees supportive decision made in UN Kyoto meeting in Milano, last December. Look the press release here: http://elonmerkki.net/forestforum/uk/press3.html Today there is about 300 ngos and almost 3000 individuals supporting the demand. The basic idea to reward with emission rights those western countries which would be putting up tree plantations in third world is simply false, even without GM trees, says campaigner Hannu Hyvönen by the Union of Ecoforestry in Finland. Instead of that kind of carbon offset imperialism, we should just strive to restore the forest cover of our planet towards its former riches and abundance. GM trees would be the last step in the destructive course of industrial forestry. The campaign also argues that the introduction of genetically modified trees with their unpredictable and irreversible risk for forest ecosystems is breaking the national sovereighnity of those countries which would be contaminated by pollen of GM plantations. Actually the introduction of GM trees in open environment is breaking the Convention on Biodiversity, Cartagena Biosafety protocoll and several other international threaties. States have the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, says lawyer and activist of People´s Biosafety Association, Mikko Vartiainen. Tree plantations are not forests - Seeking the alternative solutions The forest cover of the Earth has however a great role in global carbon balance. The campaign is now continuing to open discussion on alternative solutions and strategies for preventing climate change. The recent findings on boreal silvicultural alternatives show that this mainstream forest management, with monoculture plantations and clearcuttings is not at all the most efficient in binding carbon and maintaining carbon strorages. Also the good examples on agroforestry solutions tell us that there are much more better solutions to work with trees than monocultures, invites Leo Stranius, chair of Friends of Earth Finland to continue the discussion for alternatives on People´s Forest Forum: http://elonmerkki.net/forestforum. For more information:
http://elonmerkki.net/forestforum Coordinator The Union of Ecoforestry tel +358-40-831 7733 e-mail: hannu@elonmerkki.net Chair Friends of the Earth Finland tel +358-40-754 7371 email: leo.stranius@maanystavat.fi http://www.maanystavat.fi |
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