Opposing the release of GE Chestnut into the wild

[Steve Gilman]

Apologies for cross-posing

Hi Mountain Folks,

We all would like to see the revitalization of our beloved American Chestnut trees that flourished on the Mountain until felled by the “Chestnut Blight” — a fungus that was already widespread in the northeast by 1904 and pretty much wiped out chestnut forests on south by 1926. Their root systems are still alive and viable, however, sending up shoots that can grow some 30 feet tall before falling victim to the fungus which enters fissures in the bark and girdles the young trees. Some trees are able to produce chestnuts that could produce a resistance to the fungus — and there have also been long term cross-breeding efforts with Chinese Chestnuts to produce a viable resistant hybrid.

Because of their popularity, Chestnut trees have also been the subject of experimental research using Genetic Engineering (GE) — and at this point there is an effort via the US Dept, of Agriculture to release the GE DNA into the wild. For reasons outlined below the release of GE DNA willy nilly into the wild could permanently degrade the DNA of native wild stock — and even find its way to the Mountain.

Here is an important petition from the Global Justice Ecology Project against the release of GMO chestnut trees. Please forward! —
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/ge_chestnut

And here’s a succinct letter to the NYT on this subject from Brian Caldwell, an organic apple grower in NYS and an agricultural specialist at Cornell University:

“Objections to GE chestnuts start with the genetic engineering process itself. It is not a precise technology. Packets of genetic material are shot randomly into host cells, disrupting DNA. Because of this, the majority of GE “events” harm the cells and often are fatal. The few cells that live are grown into baby trees via tissue culture. However, because of genetic damage, many grow poorly or have undesirable traits. Those that make the cut are grown on, but these still carry genetic disruptions. Studies show that often multiple copies of genes are inserted at various locations, containing extra DNA. The inserted packet of DNA includes not only the gene of interest, but also multiple other sequences of DNA that regulate and promote the production of the desired new chemical within the plant. Non-functional copies of parts of that packet, along with other DNA debris, wind up strewn through the chromosomes. These damages can result in undesirable effects when the GE trees eventually grow in the forest environment. Once this happens, it cannot be called back. A conventional breeding program can and will produce resistant American chestnuts, without the introduction of degraded DNA to the wild populations. Approval for release of these “beloved” trees will make it much easier to gain approval for other GE trees with negative effects in the global South. The history of GE crops shows that their use is based on profit and market control, not on human or environmental values.”

All the Best,

Steve Gilman

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This year marks the 20th anniversary of the launch of the first effort to stop genetically engineered (GE) trees. We at the Campaign To STOP GE Trees are reaching out to you today to ask you to support our re-launch of the campaign to reject the unregulated U.S. release of the first ever GE tree into wild forests (see today’s press release).

The campaign seeks to prevent USDA approval of the GE American chestnut tree. If approved it would not only be the first ever GE tree legalized in the US, it would be the first ever GMO designed specifically for release into native ecosystems under the facade of “restoration.” If released, this GE tree threatens to contaminate and eventually replace wild American chestnuts in forests across the eastern US and southern Canada.

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Help protect forests and communities from the risks and unknowable threa…
Action Network
Researchers are developing a genetically engineered (GE) American chestnut tree and hope to win government appro…

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the launch of the first effort to stop genetically engineered (GE) trees. We at the Campaign To STOP GE Trees are reaching out to you today to ask you to support our re-launch of the campaign to reject the unregulated U.S. release of the first ever GE tree into wild forests (see today’s press release).

Release: Diverse Groups Unite In Opposition To GE Tree Plan By SUNY-ESF …
Campaign to STOP Genetically Engineered Trees For Immediate Release …

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