GMW:_Protesters_fell_GM_tree_study_-_400_GM_beeches_destroyed

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GMW:_Protesters_fell_GM_tree_study_-_400_GM_beeches_destroyed

" GM_WATCH "

Thu, 24 Jun 2004 09:13:37 +0100

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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Protesters fell Finland's only GM tree study

Thursday, June 24, 2004

By Reuters

http://www.enn.com/news/2004-06-24/s_25187.asp

 

Attackers have torn up 400 genetically modified birch trees in Finland, wrecking

the nation's only research into the environmental impact of biotechnology on

forests, officials said Wednesday.

 

Police said they did not yet know who was behind the attack on the Punkaharju

site in eastern Finland or whether protesters opposed to genetic modification

were involved.

 

The trees were chopped down or torn up by their roots over the weekend on the

fenced but unguarded site.

 

Some environmental groups fear genetically modified trees might irreversibly

contaminate food crops and wild species, an issue the study aimed to

investigate.

 

" The research investigated the possible environmental effects of doing field

studies using genetically modified materials. It would have been extremely

important to find out about these issues, " said research station head Juhani

Haggman.

 

The 400 trees were part of Finland's only field study on genetically modified

trees. The forestry industry hopes genetic modification could cut paper-making

costs and improve products by producing trees with suitable traits.

 

" We lack research on how genes work, " Haggman said. " We are talking about

several hundreds of thousands of euros in losses. The highest estimates that

have been aired have been close to a million euros ($1.21 million). Then there's

the value the research results would have had, " Haggman said.

 

The crime carried a maximum penalty of a four-year jail sentence, said Detective

Chief Inspector Martti Kemppainen, who is heading the investigation.