Blog #7

     Eucalyptus trees originated in Australia but have been introduced to areas of the United States. The trees appear harmless and beautiful, after all they are trees. Trees represent life, strength, and shelter. Benefits of genetically altering trees might seem ideal at first by providing strong, resilient trees to areas that have been stripped or have lost its native trees over time from foresting or chemically altered grounds. Initially, it would be perceived as a no brainer, plant the trees, save the forests!

     I am a firm believer that we should not introduce something new to an environment. We have all heard stories about frogs, birds, vines, etc. that has been introduced to the United States over the years and have proliferated in exponential amounts and have changed ecosystems. Right here in our backyards, we are experiencing the very same situation with pythons and boa constrictors. Escaped from pet stores and homes during Hurricane Andrew and released from owners that have changed their minds, these snakes have taken over the Everglades. They eat the natural wildlife in the swamps that are staggering to stay within acceptable numbers as it is with the Everglades vanishing little by little.

     I believe that the GE trees will do the same. According to the Global Justice Ecology website, in California, where eucalyptus trees have already been introduced in the 1800s, the government spends millions to try to eradicate them. The trees fuel wildfires, take over water sources above and below ground causing drought, destruct the carbon rich forests, and are known hosts of a fungus that is deadly to humans and animals. They have taken over and are eliminating the native plants and animals by changing the native ecosystem.

     So in my opinion, the benefits of having trees do not outweigh the risks of the type of tree being considered. If ArborGen wants to be green and genetically develop trees, then they should develop trees that are native to the area in which they wish to plant them. Otherwise, the ulterior motives are only going to further damage our gentle ecosystem and we will be in a worse predicament than we are now in five years.