Blog #7 - Genetically Modified Eucalyptus

     As a concerned, eco-aware citizen, I have some strong opinions about the introduction of genetically engineered (GE) eucalyptus trees on the campus of FGCU.  Eucalyptus tress are fast growing hardwood trees indiginous to Australia.  Their pulp is perfect for making paper.  Eucalyptus tress have very dense, heavy limbs, and oily leaves.  The oil is extremely flammable, can be used for cleaning and as a natural pesticide.  These trees utilize up to twice as much water as other hard wood trees, and have been used as mosquito control in some areas, due to their 'swamp draining' abilities.

    ArborGen states that their GE trees are great in many ways, including more wood per acre, thus freeing up more acreage for naturally occuring trees, they have been engineered to not need as much water as other eucalyptus, and they are very fast growing.  ArborGen is affiliated with three large paper companies, International Paper, MedaWestvaco, and Rubicon Ltd.  Being able to produce more wood per acre, in a much faster time frame is a benefit of GE trees. 

     From a biocentric aspect, I feel that all living things have a value of their own.  There is a reason they are the way they are, and their value lies in their naturalness.  From an ecotentric aspect, species and ecosystems have an intrinsic value of their own.  They are valuable the way they are, and should not be artifically altered.  There are concerns with violating the intergrity of species.  I feel that if these trees were meant to grow in a cold environment, they would be able to tolerate it naturally.

    Concerns that I have extrinsically are the potentially for the impact on the environment.  FGCU is very close to the Everglades.  Water conservation is of great concern in the Everglades.  These trees are known as 'invasive water suckers'.  They are planted to drain swamps.  If they spread beyond the confines of the campus, it could be disastorous for the Everglades, and for the population of south Florida.  The oil eucalyptus trees produces is very flammable, and has been cited as fueling wildfires.  The Oakhills Firestorm of 1991 was said to be fueled by the scores of eucalpytus trees in California. 

 Since their introduction to California, these trees have been implicated in the decrease in biodiversity of native plants, birds, and animals.  The longhorned beetle was brought into California on a sapling, causing widespread destruction.  With no natural predators, the beetle flourished.  Then someone decided to introduce the syngaster lepidue wasp to kill the beetle.  Now we have three non-native species in California.  What implications does this have long term?  What native plants and animals will be destroyed because of these GE trees?  If they grow so quickly, are hard to get rid of, spread fast, and are now freeze tolerant, who is to say they won't take over the US?  The kudzu is an example of an invasive plant that has flourished.  The threat to SW Florida is great if this GE tree were to spread.
     I don't feel that the benefit of these trees outweighs the risk.  I feel that money from the paper companies is the driving force.  I do not believe there are any reasonable steps to be taken to mitigate the risk from these invasive trees.  Corporate greed cannot be allowed to dictate responsible ecology.