Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Ecological and Societal Aspects of Transgenic Plantations

Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Ecological and Societal Aspects of Transgenic Plantations In Conjunction with the IUFRO Conference on Tree Biotechnology in the New Millennium July 22–24, 2001 Steven H. Strauss ([email protected]), Oregon State University and H.D. (Toby) Bradshaw ([email protected]), Conference Organizers Skamania Lodge, Columbia River Gorge, Stevenson, Washington, USA See the IUFRO meeting web site, to download a copy of this proceedings, and to view all poster and paper abstracts: http://www.fsl.orst.edu/tgerc/iufro2001/ PREFACE ore than 200 economists, ecologists, environmentalists, ethicists, molecular biolo- gists, industry representatives, and government regulators from 23 countries con- M vened at Skamania Lodge, along the scenic Columbia River Gorge between Wash- ington and Oregon, for a 2-day symposium on the ecological and societal aspects of transgenic forest plantations (http://www.fsl.orst.edu/tgerc/iufro2001/eco_symp_iufro.htm). Of the 28 in- vited lectures given at the symposium, 14 were from scholars who presented a broad environmental, ecological, or ethical view. The symposium was held in conjunction with the biennial meeting (22–27 July 2001) of the International Union of Forestry Research Organizations Unit on the Molecular Biology of Forest Trees (Vienna, Austria: http://iufro.boku.ac.at/). This proceedings attempts to capture the main issues raised in the lectures, breakout sessions, and sum- mary statements. Among the widely accepted conclusions from the conference are the following: •A great deal more scientific research is the most glaring need to help answer questions of benefit and safety, and thus of social acceptability. The question of “do we really need it?” cannot be answered until much more is learned from laboratory and field research. •Plantation forests have the potential to concentrate industrial wood production on a small land base, and thus spare wild forests from intensive harvest. Whether this actually occurs depends on social mechanisms for protection as well as on technological innovation. • The long lifespan of trees, and the common presence of wild or feral relatives, are particularly troublesome for benefit/safety assessment, which is therefore likely to require a combination of modeling, monitoring, and adaptive management. Genetically engineered flowering con- trol was considered critical for some traits to restrict transgene dispersal. However, the notion that trees engineered with one or a few genes are functionally analogous to exotic invasive organisms, and thus are likely to “threaten” wild forests, was widely rejected. •Research to date has demonstrated a high degree of health and stability of performance of genetically engineered trees in field trials oriented toward possible commercial applications. •None of the attendees called for a moratorium on all field research with genetically engineered trees, as Greenpeace has demanded. But Faith Campbell (American Lands Alliance) and Sue Mayer (GeneWatch UK) called for a moratorium on the commercial release of genetically engineered trees until further research indicates that large-scale plantings would be environmentally safe. •Participants expressed a high level of optimism about the potential for research to enable beneficial applications of GM trees. A survey taken at the end of the meeting (Appendix 1) re- vealed that 88% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “Sufficient basic and applied research upon the genetic stability and ecosystem behavior of GM trees, and upon the design of biological safety mechanisms, can create environmentally safe and societally beneficial trees and outcomes.” This was the first international symposium to attempt to forge a consensus on how to move forward in research and public debate. It is abundantly clear that substantial progress was made in many directions, however it is also clear that many additional steps will be needed for the potential benefits and acceptability of genetic engineering in forestry to be fully explored. H.D. Bradshaw, Jr. and Steven H. Strauss, 13 November 2001 TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome to Symposia Steve Strauss and Toby Bradshaw ................................................... 7 Introduction of Keynote Speaker Toby Bradshaw .............................................................. 9 Keynote Address: Future Forests: Environmental and Social Contexts for Forest Biotechnologies Hal Salwasser ............................................................................... 10 Context and Goals for Symposium Steve Strauss ............................................................ 20 Welcome to the First International Symposium on Ecological and Societal Aspects of Transgenic Plantations, in Conjunction with the IUFRO Conference on Tree Biotechnology in the New Millennium Paul G. Risser ................. 23 Moderator Introductions Steve Strauss ............................................................................. 25 POLICY AND ECONOMICS .................................................................................. 27 The Economic Contribution of Biotechnology and Forest Plantations in Global Wood Supply and Forest Conservation Roger A. Sedjo ...................................... 29 Restoring the Forests David G. Victor and Jesse H. Ausubel ............................................... 47 Biotechnology and the Forest Products Industry Alan A. Lucier, Maud Hinchee, and Rex B. McCullough ........................................................ 57 Responding to New Trees and to the Issues at Hand: The Institute of Forest Biotechnology W. Steven Burke ......................................................................................... 62 Will the Marketplace See the Sustainable Forest for the Transgenic Trees? Don S. Doering .................................................................................................................... 70 ETHICS ......................................................................................................... 83 The Ethics of Molecular Silviculture Paul B. Thompson .................................................. 85 Ethical and Social Considerations in Commercial Uses of Food and Fiber Crops Sandy Thomas ......................................................................................... 92 REGULATORY POLICIES ..................................................................................... 99 Regulation of Transgenic Plants in the United States David S. Heron and John L. Kough ..................................................................................... 101 International Regulation and Public Acceptance of GM Trees: Demanding a New Approach to Risk Evaluation Sue Mayer ....................................... 105 FOREST SCIENCE ........................................................................................... 111 Transgenic Trees: Where are We Now? Dave Ellis, Rick Meilan, Gilles Pilate, and Jeffrey S. Skinner ................................................. 113 Perspectives on Risk in Transgenic Forest Plantations in Relation to Conventional Breeding and Use of Exotic Pines and Eucalypts: Viewpoints of Practicing Breeding and Transformation Scientists R.D. Burdon and C. Walter ................................................................................................. 124 Use of Transgenic Resistance in Plantation Trees: Efficacy, Risk, and Integration with Other Pest Management Tactics Kenneth F. Raffa .............................. 138 ECOLOGICAL SCIENCE .................................................................................... 149 Ecological Considerations for Potentially Sustainable Plantation Forests James R. Boyle, Heléne Lundkvist, and C.T. Smith ............................................................... 151 GE Trees: Proceed only with Caution Faith T. Campbell and Rachel Asante-Owusu ..................................................................... 158 Biodiversity Implications of Transgenic Plantations John P. Hayes .............................. 168 Potential Impacts of Genetically Modified Trees on Biodiversity of Forestry Plantations: a Global Perspective Brian Johnson and Keith Kirby .................... 176 Invasiveness of Transgenic vs. Exotic Plant Species: How Useful is the Analogy? James F. Hancock and Karen E. Hokanson ......................... 187 BREAKOUT SESSIONS ...................................................................................... 193 Instructions to Leaders.......................................................................................... 195 1A — Social / Global Context Daniel B. Botkin and Jarmo Schrader ............................. 197 1B — Social /Global Context Trevor Fenning ................................................................ 199 2A — Biological Context /Biodiversity Alvin Yanchuk .................................................. 201 2B — Biological Context /Biodiversity Gerald Tuskan and John Hayes ........................ 203 3A — Invasiveness / Weediness Jim Hancock ............................................................... 205 3B — Invasiveness / Weediness Don Doering ............................................................... 206 4A — Wood Modification Chung-jui Tsai ....................................................................... 208 4B — Wood Modification Malcolm Campbell ............................................................... 210 5A — Benefits and Safety of Pest Management Applications

Load more