24/04/2026 GE Trees Threaten New Zealand's Ecosystem - Lessons from Overseas
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24/04/2026 GE Trees Threaten New Zealand's Ecosystem - Lessons from Overseas |
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Evidence is mounting that the move to genetically engineer/ modify/ gene edit (GE) monoculture plantations of pine and eucalyptus has devastating effects on the environment. [1] "New Zealand can learn the lessons from overseas about the harm caused by GE tree plantations to ecosystems. The environmental impact of GE trees includes killing off bees, water loss, and creating unprecedented fire risks, " said Claire Bleakley, GE-Free NZ president. "It is threatening nature itself, not just food integrity and exports that are at risk from deregulation proposed in the Gene Technology Bill." In South America the experience with Eucalyptus and Pine plantations is that they are highly water-demanding and create a serious fire hazard that threaten ancient forests. [2] In 2015, Suzano Celulosa & Paper, which owns 900,000 hectares of land within Brazil, gained a world first approval to plant GE trees that will replace the conventional Eucalyptus in the Brazilian Cerrado.There is growing alarm for the environment as monoculture GE trees are displacing all the native trees, killing insects, threatening bird life and creating extreme fire risk. [3] "The GE trees are engineered to tolerate herbicide and contain a toxin for insect resistance. This causes insect population to plummet and bird life to be threatened as their food source is lost," said Claire Bleakley. The Plantation Companies have increased pesticide indiscriminately spraying at any time of year, despite it being expressly forbidden by law during flowering season. As a result of companies failing to abide by the law, bees the essential pollinators are dying in record numbers and indigenous people's livelihoods are threatened. The amount of water that the trees extract has dried up the large rivers, leaving puddles of brackish water that allows mosquitoes and other insects to thrive. "New Zealand companies have a history of involvement in GE trees. The first GE eucalyptus were engineered in New Zealand through Rubicon Horizon2, which consolidated with ArborGen and then grown on in the USA." In 2000, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), (formerly the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA)) approved a large range of GE Pinus radiata field trials in Rotorua at SCION. The Pine trees were engineered to be sterile, herbicide resistant with altered biomass (low lignin), so they can be grown faster and processed easier. They were all removed for undeclared reasons. After 26 years of trials Scion has not provided any public accountability as to their failed performance. In 2025, Scion started a new Pine tree sterility field trial using CRISPR/Cas gene editing technology. These GE Trees would escape regulation if the Gene Technology Bill were passed. [4][5] New Zealand must learn from the harm caused by GE plantations overseas and ensure that our environment and peoples livelihoods are protected, not sacrificed for the commercial interests of the biotechnology industry. The Gene Technology Bill is a threat to the economy, environment and health of the country. References: [4] https://www.epa.govt.nz/industry-areas/new-organisms/genetically-modified-organisms/gm-field-tests/ [6] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8353756/ ENDS: Claire Bleakley – president - 027 348 6731 Jon Carapiet- spokesman 0210507681 |
The ecological harm caused overseas by the expansion of GE tree plantations provides a warning for New Zealand.