Letter to the CBD to ban GM Trees

15 November 2006

At its last Conference of the Parties (COP8), the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted a very important Decision in relation to the issue of genetically modified trees and invited everyone “to provide relevant views and information to the Secretariat for inclusion in this assessment”. Given that a number of organizations have produced a joint letter (below) to be sent to the Secretariat providing information and analysis on the issue and calling for a “mandatory decision declaring an immediate ban on the release of GM trees.”

CBD Secretariat
Dear Mr Djoghlaf,

The undersigned wish to express our full support for the COP 8’s Decision VIII/19 (Forest biological diversity: implementation of the programme of work), which “Recommends Parties to take a precautionary approach when addressing the issue of genetically modified trees”.

We also support the reasons for the adoption of the above Decision which states that: “Recognizing the uncertainties related to the potential environmental and socio-economic impacts, including long-term and transboundary impacts, of genetically modified trees on global forest biological diversity, as well as on the livelihoods of indigenous and local communities, and given the absence of reliable data and of capacity in some countries to undertake risk assessments and to evaluate those potential impacts”.

Given that the Decision also “Invites Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations, including indigenous and local communities, as well as relevant stakeholders, to provide relevant views and information to the Secretariat for inclusion in this assessment,” we would like to contribute to this assessment.

A look at the main genetically modified (GM) tree research currently being carried out shows that it is focused on a very narrow range of aims:

- herbicide resistance
- insect resistance
- tree sterility
- lower lignin and higher cellulose content
- resistance to cold, salt or drought
- faster growth

None of the above can be seen as being beneficial to global forest biological diversity, which needs accompanying flora species (impacted by herbicides), insects and related food chains (impacted by insect resistant trees), flowers and seeds (inexistent with tree sterility), wood resistant to strong winds (lower lignin content makes trees weaker), trees and plants adapted to local environments (impacted by alien trees resistant to cold, salt or drought), intact soils and sufficient water (depleted by fast-growing trees) In addition, genetically engineered tree plantations are likely to be developed where biologically diverse forests now stand, following the trend of monoculture plantations that have replaced native forests around the world.

This indicates that GM trees are not beneficial for global forest biological diversity. It is also clear that those genetic modifications are being carried out for industrial and not environmental reasons and, if released, would result in industrial plantations with low biodiversity, largely devoid of other living organisms, thus effectively depleting forest biological diversity.

This leads to the main question: Can genetically modified trees have a negative impact on global forest biological diversity?

The main threats are:

- Substitution of diverse forests by genetically modified tree monocultures. This is already happening with “conventional” tree monocultures (oil palm, eucalyptus, pines, acacias, and gmelinas) and there is no reason to believe that it would be different with GM trees. On the contrary, corporations like ArborGen have postulated that pulp from plantations of GM trees could bring in considerably higher profits than pulp from conventional monocultures, indicating that corporations intend to rapidly implement large scale industrial GM tree plantations.

- Contamination of non-GM trees of the same species or genus. This contamination is particularly dangerous in the case of the most widespread plantation tree—eucalyptus —whose many species have the capacity to hybridise and could therefore be easily pollinated by GM eucalyptus. It is also dangerous in other plantation species such as pines, poplars and acacias. In China, the only country where GM trees are planted on a commercial scale, contamination of native poplar trees has already been documented.

- Contamination of related tree species. Tree pollen can travel very long distances and could contaminate non-GM trees both of the same species as well as other related species in entire regions and countries. This would mean that native trees might acquire the genetically modified traits of GM trees. For instance, they might become resistant to insects, i.e. produce toxins, thus resulting in the depletion of certain insect populations and dependent plant and animal species. The “solution” of developing flowerless trees creates false confidence in the supposed safety of the technology and runs the risk of passing on any of the modified genes to trees in the wild – if sterility were to fail in just one single tree in one year.

- Trees with less lignin (and higher cellulose content) would be more prone to pest attacks, and potentially increased windfalls, and would rot more quickly, altering soil structure and releasing CO2 more quickly, thus contributing to climate change. Decomposing forest dead wood provides an essential habitat for a high diversity of flora and fauna. Disturbing the rate of wood decomposition would have a dramatic effect on species populations, the consequences of which have not been studied. These trees would also show altered characteristics during storm, flooding and possibly drought.

- Contamination of forest ecosystems and other habitats with GM trees via seed. Trees produce abundant fruit and seed, often capable of travelling long distances either carried by air, water, animals and human activities. Trees genetically engineered for faster growth, salt tolerance, short daylight adaptation or cold tolerance could out-compete common pioneer species or populate rare or marginal habitats previously uninhabitable to trees.

- Impacts on the livelihoods of indigenous and local communities. The environmental release and commercial use of GM trees in industrial GM tree plantations would provide no goods to local communities, and would impact on their traditional use of forest resources, including fruit, seed, insects, animals, honey, and fibres. In the long run, contamination of native tree species could wipe out most of the resources they depend on.

- Many studies have been done on the potential human health impacts of GM crops and the risks involved are manifold. Few risk assessment studies apply specifically to trees and though they are likely to share similar risks to plant crops, trees are also know to have other specific areas of concern when genetically modified. The longevity of trees makes the necessary multi-generational risks assessment studies impossible to carry out in the short-term. Yet it is known that aberrations of intended gene expression may only become apparent when studied over several generations. Unexpected gene expression is known to have occurred in elm trees, for example.

- Increased contamination of soils, water and air from toxic herbicides used in conjunction with herbicide-resistant trees, or inhalation of pollen from insect-resistant trees could have serious impacts on the health of indigenous and local communities.

- There are significant likely impacts on women and indigenous peoples, the traditional caretakers of biodiversity. In many communities, women are the ones who think in terms of generations. It is women in rural and indigenous communities who will bear the greatest burden of the impacts of GM tree plantations, just as they currently bear the brunt of the impacts from conventional monoculture tree plantations. Women and children will likely bear the brunt of any human health consequences of GE trees, for example resulting from inhalation of large quantities of Bt toxin from the pollen of insect-resistant Bt trees.

In conclusion, GM trees have no role to play in the conservation of global forest biological diversity and, on the contrary, are likely to reduce forest biodiversity, with attendant social consequences. The high risks indicated by the available though incomplete science show that the technology could result in the extinction of forest plant and animal species with severe negative impacts on biodiversity.

We therefore urge the Convention on Biological Diversity to move forward from the current recommendation to Parties to take a precautionary approach, to a mandatory decision declaring an immediate ban on the release of GM trees.

Yours sincerely,

Ana Lucía Bravo 
Acción Ecológica

Carlos A. Vicente
Acción por la Biodiversidad

Javier Baltodano/ Isaac Rojas
Forest Program/ Friends of the Earth International

Miguel Lovera
Global Forest Coalition

Anne Petermann
Global Justice Ecology Project

Henk Hobbelink
GRAIN

Brian Tokar
Institute for Social Ecology

Elizabeth Bravo
Network for a GE Free Latin America

Orin Langelle
STOP GE Trees Campaign

Ricardo Carrere
World Rainforest Movement

Additional signatures up to November 23th

Argentina

Lic. Silvana Buján
BIOS ARGENTINA
Presidenta

Luis Ernesto Sabini Fernández
Ecopolítica Futuros

Grace de Haro
APDH Human Rights Organization

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Universidad Nacional del Comahue

Vecinos Autoconvocados Jacobacci

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Daniel Otal
Asociación Civil Alas para la Comunicación Popular

Diana Caviezel

Nora Correas
AAVRA (Asociación de Artistas Visuales de la República Argentina)

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CPN Walter Bejanuel
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Eva L. Cajigas
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UNIDA

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Alejandro Gahan
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Asamblea Ciudadana Ambiental

Marta Cristina Lugli

Miguel Puigvert
Movimiento Horticultura
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Graciela Capodoglio
Carlos A. Vicente
Acción por la Biodiversidad

Mirta Gómez

Vicente Torre
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Guillermo Gutiérrez
ICEPH - Instituto Cordillerano de Estudios y Promoción Humana

Marcos Nuñez

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Pcia. del Neuquén

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Gladys Vera

Armenia

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Rainforest Information Centre

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Breakthrough Facilitation

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Alan Reid
Andy Stanham
White Knuckle Marketing

Bob Phelps
Executive Director
GeneEthics Network

Narelle Stiles

Rowland Benjamin
President
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Friends of the Earth Australia

Indra Esguerra
Canberra, Australia

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President of SAGFIN
South Australian Genetic Food Information Network

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President
Bangladesh Krishok Federation

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Indigenous sovereign Bear Clan families of Maxan Lake B.C.

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Bill Michell
Indigenous sovereign Bear Clan families of Maxan Lake B.C.

Buffy Michell
Indigenous sovereign Bear Clan families of Maxan Lake B.C.

Curtis Michell
Indigenous sovereign Bear Clan families of Maxan Lake B.C.

Doreen Michell
Indigenous sovereign Bear Clan families of Maxan Lake B.C.

Dunovan Michell
Indigenous sovereign Bear Clan families of Maxan Lake B.C.

Mary Michell
Indigenous sovereign Bear Clan families of Maxan Lake B.C.

Telquaa, Helen Michell
Indigenous sovereign Bear Clan families of Maxan Lake B.C.

Wally Michell
Indigenous sovereign Bear Clan families of Maxan Lake B.C.

Stephen Morison
Quebec

Beatrice Olivastri
Friends of the Earth Canada

Curtis Patrick
Indigenous sovereign Bear Clan families of Maxan Lake B.C.

Dr. J. Douglas Salmon, Jr.
Rehabilitation Research, Education & Evaluation Services
Centre for Family, Child & Adolescent Advancement

Gary Shneider and the board of the Environmental Coalition of Prince Edward Island

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Enviro Tech student, Fleming College

Karen Rothschild
Coordinating Committee
Union paysanne
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Chile

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Gregorio Paredes
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Pablo Cala
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CENSAT Agua Viva
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Denmark

Hans Nielsen, M. Sc.
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Fundación Agricultura y Medio Ambiente
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Jose Matias Valencia
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Jefferson Mecham
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Ing. For. Johana Muñoz
Centro de Estudios y Desarrollo de la Amazonia
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Aurora Donoso
Instituto de Estudios Ecologistas del Tercer Mundo

Lider Gongora F.
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Redmanglar Internacional

Tania Soledad Coronel Reyna
Elvis Geovanny Chávez Ormaza
Marcelo Kenny Cotera Torres
Juanito Nisbaldo Ortiz Góngora
Antonio Filamil García Ramos
Juan Emilio Zambrano Loor
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José Fabara - Rojas
M.Sc. Ecología Tropical y Conservación

Egypt

Karam Saber
Executive Manager
Land Center for Human Rights

Finland

Hannu Hyvönen
Union of Ecoforestry

Tapani Veistola
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Suomen luonnonsuojeluliitto
Finska naturskyddsförbundet
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Sami Niemi

Jenni Sademies

Jaana Lepp lammi-Kujansuu

Marja Leino

Tanja Eskola

Jouni Ylinen

Heidi Hopp

Kirsi Chavda
SIEMENPUU FOUNDATION

France

Emmanuelle Grundmann

Valérie Techer
Buró Nacional
Asociación France Amérique Latine

Isabelle Michallet

Nadine Lauverjat
Chargée de mission MDRGF

Georges Cingal
Secrétaire Général Fédération SEPANSO
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Nature dans le Sud-Ouest)
Vice-Président Bureau Européen de l'Environnement

Germany

Martin Kaiser
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Thomas Trueten

Franziska and Dr. Wolfgang Wiebecke

Ute Sprenger
Gen-ethisches Netzwerk -GeN
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Paco Murillo

Jörg Weigang
University of Eberswalde

Jaspar Albers

Alexander Hinrichs

Christoph Wehner

Chris Lang
World Rainforest Movement

Lydia Bartz

Hermann Edelmann,
Pro REGENWALD

Dr. Peter Clausing
Verein Freunde Südmexikos

Hans Christian Offer
Ecodevelop

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Jürgen Stahn
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Holistic Treatments
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Internationale Projektkoordination
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Guatemala

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Miembra del Proyecto Miriam de Guatemala

Ghana

Lambert Okrah
Institute of Cultural Affairs

Sakeena K. Bonsu
Evergreen Club

Holland

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Amigos del MST en Holanda

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University of Amsterdam

Carbon Trade Watch

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Honduras

Jorge Varela./ Director Ejecutivo
Comité para la Defensa y Desarrollo de la Flora y Fauna del Golfo de Fonseca
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Thelma Maria Mejia Ordoñez
Departamento De Biologia
Universidad Nacional Autonoma De Honduras

Internationals or no country given

Jesus Dominguez Law

Beatriz Hoffman

Marimer A. Molina
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Marta Díaz

Luis Arnaldo Santiago Rivera

Meghan Hunt

Alfonso Vazquez

Patricia Schebsdat

Eduardo Basz
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Edu de Souza

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Javier Baltodano
Programa de Bosques
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Red Latinoamericana contra los Monocultivos de Arboles
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Art Herttua

Jean-Paul Jeanrenaud
Director, One Planet Living
WWF InternationalJoleah KunkelAlexis Lathem

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Cristina Trepat Folch
Bióloga

India

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Souparna Lahiri
NFPPFN

Shankar Jadhav
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S. Usha

Umendra Dutt
Executive Director
KHETI VIRASAT MISSION
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Jacob Nellithanam
Centre for Indigenous Farming Systems

Kavitha Kuruganti
Centre for Sustainable Agriculture

Ashish Fernandes

Pandurang Hegde
Appiko-Chipko Movement

P. Chennaiah
Secretary- National Coordination
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Datta Patil
Executive Director
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Sheelu Francis
Tamilnadu Women's Collective

Sundari Perumal
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A Gopalakrishnan Nair

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Partha Majumdar
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Kunal Deb

Kalyan Chakrabarti
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Muhammad Riza
Yayasan Duta Awam

Indonesia

Ade Fadli
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Italy

Alfredo L. Somoza

Gianfranca Dal Toso

Iran

Maryam Rahmanian
Centre for Sustainable Development and Environment (CENESTA)

Ireland

Tom Roche
Just Forests

Kenya

Paul Saoke
Executive Director
Physicians for Social Responsibility

Soren Ambrose
Solidarity Africa Network

Njoki Njoroge Njehu
Daughters of Mumbi Global Resource Center

Malaysia

Chee Yoke Ling
Third World Network

Lebanon

Thérèse Sfeir
Organic Agriculture Specialist
LibanCert: Lebanese Organic Certification Body

Mauritius, Indian Ocean

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Mauritius Newspaper and Union of Environmental Journalists (UEJ)

Mexico

José Salazar Hernández
Ak Kanantik Ak Ká‚ax. A.C.
Cuidemos nuestras selvas. A.C.

Carlos Armenta
Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo

Jardiel Jaimes
Asesoria certificada de Agricultura Organica A.C.

Juárez García Luciano

Irma Lorena Acosta Reveles
Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas

Jesus Dominguez

Gaston Bander

Carla Aguilar

Peter Rosset
CECCAM

Andrés Valle Doménech
Biólogo

Cecilia de la Llave

Marisol Fernández Alonso
Bióloga y Artista

Anel Camacho

Pedro Ajás González

Silvia Ribeiro
ETC Group

Romeo Saldìvar
Documentalismo Submarino
Departamento de Biologìa Marina
Universidad Autònoma de Baja California Sur

M. C. J. Milton J. Aragón Palacios
Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León

Fernando Bejarano G
Red de Acción en Plaguicidas y sus Alternativas en México (RAPAM)

Constanza Díaz

Jose Manuel Arias Rodriguez
Coordinador de Proyectos
Asociacion Ecologica Santo Tomás A.C

Ing. Henry Santacruz Vivas
INSTITUTO DE ECOEFICIENCIA AMBIENTAL

C. Melquiades Cuevas Crisanto
Pdte. del Comisariado de Bienes Comunales de la comunidad indígena de San Juan Jaltepec, Yaveo, Oaxaca, México

C. Lorenzo Celis Chimil. Pdte. del Consejo de Vigilancia de la misma comunidad

C. Teodosio Angel Molina. Comisionado de la misma comunidad

Sonia Navarro
Manejo y Conservación de Vida Silvestre
Departamento de Botánica y Zoología
Investigadora de la Universidad de Guadalajara, México

Ana Laura Juárez López
Profesora de la Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero
Unidad de Ciencias de Desarrollo Regional

Jorge Acosta
Grupo de Estudios Ambientales, AC

Luis Manuel Vaca Pacheco
Centro Internacional de Prospectiva y Altos Estudios, S.C.

Giselle Buchán

Ricardo Díaz

Alice Oriani

Claudia Muñóz

Maria Fernanda Martí

Gabriela Guerra

Rocío Mejía

Dasha Horita

Guadalupe Cuellar

Lilia Pacheco

Mónica Gutierrez

Jessica Burillo

Jessica Flores

Yanko Heinze

Tianguis Alternativo Bosque de Agua A.C.

Moldova

Ilya Trombitsky, PhD
Executive Director
Eco-TIRAS International Environmental Association of River Keepers

Nepal

Nazayan Kaji Shaestha
WATCH

Rajendra Lamichhane
FECOFUN

Ghanashyam Pandey
FECOFUN

Amba Datta Bhatta
Institute of Cultural Affairs

Binod Bhatta

New Zealand

Claire Bleakley
GE Free (NZ) in Food and Environment

Margaret Aylward

Clare Brown

Milton Brown

Brent Whiteley

Grant Whiteley

Northern Ireland

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland

Norway

Lars Løvold (Director)
Regnskogfondet
Rainforest Foundation Norway

Pakistan

Shahid Zia
Lok Sanjh Foundation

Atta Rajar
Bureau Chief
SINDH TV, ISLAMABAD

Panama

Pedros Rivera Ramos
Coordinador
EL GRUPO PANAMEÑO AGALAT (AGRICULTURA ALTERNATIVA Y ALERTA ANTE LA TRANSGENESIS)

Papua New Guinea

Peter Dam
Manager
FORCERT
Forest Management & Product Certification Service

Taksey Dobon
Indigenous People's Rights and Initiatives to Development. (IPIRD)

Paraguay

Nancy Riquelme

Julia Franco
Secretaria de Relaciones
CONAMURI
COORDINADORA NACIONAL DE ORGANIZACIONES DE MUJERES TRABAJADORAS RURALES E INDÍGENAS

Peru

Jorge Prado Sumari
Secretario General Colegiado
Confederación Campesina del Perú, CCP

Juan W. Mendoza Aguirre
Dirigente Nacional CCP

Ing. Enrique Moya Bendezu
Ex rector de la UNIVERSIDAD NAC. DE SAN CRISTOBAL DE HUAMANGA
EX DIRECTOR NACIONAL DEL INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE INVESTIGACIONES INIA AYACUCHO

Herbert Roncal León
Presidente Ejecutivo
KUNTURNET

Emperatriz Rodríguez Quiroz
Programa de Sensibilización y Educación Ambiental
KUNTURNET

Daniel Maynas Inuma
Presidente del Centro de Promoción y Desarrollo Rural Amazónico-CEPODRA

Jorge Ernesto Llosa Montagne
Instituto de Investigación y Capacitación Agraria Pozuzo
IINCAGRO-POZUZO

José Ríos Trigoso
Coordinador
Proyecto de Bosques Secundarios
Selva Central de Perú

Alejandro Camino D.C.
Iniciativa HimalAndes

Alejandro Camino D.C.

Rocío Infante
Administradora
Ashoka Región Andina

Anna Zucchetti
Directora
Grupo GEA "Emprendemos el Cambio"

Jorge Luis Novoa Arevalo

Alejandro Gómez Arangua
LA TIERRA

Dimas Flores Peralta
Quimico Farmaceutico
Maestria de Auditoria, gestion en Medio Ambiente
Consultor en Suministro de Medicamentos en el consorcio Cayetano heredia – AIS

Wily Palomino Condori
Miembro de la Asociacion Ecosistemas Andinos ECOAN de Perú

Ing. MS Rafael Chumbimune Zanabria
Amazonica Plantaciones

Oscar Guadalupe Zevallos
Director
Asociación HUARAYO

Reynaldo Trinidad Ardiles
Revista AGRONOTICIAS
Lima

Róger Rumrrill García
Instituto Peruano de Desarrollo "Hombre y Tierra"
Lima

Jaime Llosa Larrabure
Asesor de la Red Ambiental Peruana - Rap

Egar Yabar Larrondo
DNI 17846878
Trujillo

Moraima Rojas
Sección Ecología

Julián Cortez Sánchez
Revista "Alimentación & Salud"
Lima

Olga del Carpio Velarde
Instituto de Medio Ambiente y Género para el Desarrollo

July Rimac Coral
Profesora de Ciencias

Emma Visbal Herrera
AUPSJB, Lima

 

Philippines

Javier M. Claparols
Director
Ecological Society of the Philippines

Dr. Helen N. Mendoza

Romeo F. Quijano
Professor
College of Medicine
Univ of the Phils Manila

Abi Aguilar
Program Officer
Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural
Areas (PhilDHRRA)

Antonio M. Claparols
President
Ecological Society of the Philippines

Angelina P. Galang, ph.D.
Miriam College

Victoria M. Segovia

Ma. Rosario G. Wood
Chair, Science Department
Miriam College

Maria Kalaw

Khyn P. Yap
Earth Charter Youth Group - Negros 

Poland

Mateusz Banski

Portugal

Avelino Braga

Puerto Rico (Borike)

Evelyn Moreno

Naniki Reyes Ocasio
Caney 5to Mundo
Confederacion Unida del Pueblo Taino

Mabel Rodriguez
Directora de comunicaciones
Sierra Club, Capitulo de Puerto Rico

Jose L. Alsina

Russia

Anna Laletina
Friends of the Siberian Forests

Scotland

Mandy Haggith
Bill Ritchie
worldforests

Andrew Thompson BSc (For)

Slovakia

Daniel Lesinsky

South Africa

Leslie Liddell
Director
Biowatch S.A.

Annette Papenhagen (B.Sc.Biology)

Vanessa Black
Earthlife Africa eThekwini branch, South Africa

Spain

Marta Bisbe Regás
Pronaturaleza

Teresa Sanz Gastardi

Rubén Urzúa Zurita
Ingeniero Civil

Erika González
Observatorio de Multinacionales en América Latina
Asociación Paz con Dignidad

Aurorra Aroca

Sigfrido Miralles de Argila

Fernando Ballenilla García de Gamarra
Profesor de la Universidad de Alicante

Antonio Navarrete Salvador

Angeles Carballo Casaus
Profesora de Biología y Geología de Enseñanza Secundaria.
Instituto de Enseñanza Secundaria de Mutxamel (Alicante)

Pura Sempere Molina
Profesora de Biología de Enseñanza Media

Amparo Barroso

Begoña Sánchez Puerto

Héctor Gravina Ramos
Coordinador del Grup de Tòxics d'Alternativa Verda

Benito Andrade
Asociación pola defensa da Ría (APDR)

Adriana Echeverría

Coro Jimenez-Arellano Juanena

Tom Kucharz
Ecologistas en Acción

Ruben Bernardino
Sustainable Designer

Octavio Moreno

Julia Urquijo Reguera
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)

Esther Blanco Cartagena
University of the Balearic Islands

Miguel Angel Soto Caba
Campaña de Bosques
Greenpeace España

Oscar Bartra Carreras

Sonia Bonazza Colón
Greenpeace España

Carla Gonzales

Manuel Lucendo Hernan

Rosa Burgos Pérez

Daniel Camon i Pastor
Barcelona
PAÏSOS CATALANS

Sílvia Martín
Lic. Ciencias Ambientales
Barcelona

Laia Serra Sellarès


Sudan

Alawiyya Jamal
Ecologist(Botanist)
Programme and Project Coordinator
Environmentalist Society

Sweden

Peter Wrenfelt

Ellie Cijvat
board member
Friends of the Earth Sweden

Casey Little
Taiga Rescue Network

Switzerland

Damian Oettli

Tina Goethe
SWISSAID
Head of Development Politics

Thailand

Jim Enright
Southeast Asian Coordinator
Mangrove Action Project (MAP)

Tanzania, East Africa

C. Shembilu
Caritas-DSM

Leopoldo Salmaso
European Representative of TANDEM

United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi

Marise Sfeir

Dubai

Pascal Ibrahim
Agriculture engineer
MS in Biotechnolgy

Uganda

Kamese Geoffrey N.
National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE)

United Kingdom

Angie Zelter
Reforest the Earth

Martin Haggerty
Genetic Engineering Network
United KIngdom

Madeleine Parkyn
Scarborough Against Genetic Engineering

Anthony Jackson
Munlochy GM Vigil

Teresa Anderson
Gaia Foundation

Marcus Colchester
Forest Peoples Programme

Oliver Tickell

Liz Chidley
Campaigner
Down to Earth - the International Campaign for Ecological Justice in Indonesia

Andy Kadir-Buxton
APAC and MPC

Sam Burcher
Insitute of Science in Society

Elisabet Lopez
Environment Advocacy Coordinator
Progressio

Clare Oxborrow
Friends of the Earth England

Mal Mitchell

Carrie Stebbings, Co-ordinator
GM FREEZE CAMPAIGN

Daniela Peluso
University of Kent

Tobias Jackson
Community Forestry Technical Advisor
( working for FAO in Cambodia)

William Ellens
Walsall Friends of the Earth

Amanda Yorwerth
St Albans Friends of the Earth

Donald C Macdonald

Jane Temple

Carol Cholerton

Denise Pennie

Joel Senoff

United States

Alex P. Brown
Executive Director
Bark

Chuck Kaufman
Nicaragua Network

Gretchen Ruethling
Communications Coordinator, Media Outreach
Rainforest Alliance

Patty McGrath

Rachel Coombs
New Hampshire Peace Action

Joel Rosenblum

Hugh Sanborn

John Friede
Executive Director
Worldview, Ltd.

Paul and Gene de Benedictis

Mary Bull, Co-director <chalicenew@earthlink.net>
Greenwood Earth Alliance, Save the Redwoods - Boycott the Gap Campaign
Chalice Farm and Sustainable Living Center

The Enviro Show
WXOJ-LP
Northampton, MA

Michael J. Marx
Director
Corporate Ethics International

Ronnie Cummins
Organic Consumers Association

Jim Wells
Oregon Wild Edibles
PO Box 11021
Eugene, OR 97440

Rev. Walter Stark
Cumberland Countians for Peace & Justice

Rev. Charles Lord
Caney Fork Headwaters Association

Donald B. Clark
Network for Environmental & Economic Responsibility
United Church of Christ

Robert Roth

Hope Shand
ETC Group

Don Kimball

Michele Cheung
Dark Night relatives

Michael A Conley

John Blair
President
Valley Watch, Inc.

Professor Lawrence Hamilton
Former Senior Fellow
East West Center

Oshana Catranides

Buffalo Bruce
Board Chair, WNRC
Western Nebraska Resources Council

World Information Transfer, Inc.

Tim Jeffries-Quintero
Coordinator
Bend-Condega Friendship Project

Josh Schlossberg
Communications Coordinator
Native Forest Council

Lori Ann Burd
Northwest Resistance Against Genetic Engineering

Penny Lind
Executive Director
Umpqua Watersheds

Bethany Fleishman

Pat Rasmussen
World Temperate Rainforest Network

Kye Cochran
General Manager
Upper Valley Food Co-op
White River Junction, Vermont

Mike Petersen
The Lands Council

Betty Ball
Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center

Pete Shanks

Lea Wood

Pete Cutting

Barbara Bates

Lowell Downey
Katie Aaron
Erica Martenson
PINA
Preserving the Integrity of Napa Agriculture

Kathleen Shepherd
Dartmouth College

Elizabeth Champagne
Adamant Co-op (VT)

Sue West

Tanya Croke

Donna Jordan

Marti King

Sharon Rich

Bernie & Marcia Altman

Arran E. Thomson

Christian L Heinold

Carla Christianson

Jerome Solotky

Karl J. Volk

Lydia Garvey

Greg Rupert
Citizens for a Sustainable Planet

Sylvan Grey

Susanna Bonner

Maureen Freeman
White Violet Center for Eco-Justice

Louise Lacey
Growing Native

Helena Melone

Margaret Eisenberger
International Center for Tropical Ecology

Patty McGrath

Denton Bragg

Stephen Hall
Friends of the Navarro

Steve Baker

Pam Trenholm
Brighton Botanicals

Laurel Hopwood
Chair, Sierra Club Genetic Engineering Committee

Erik Jansson
President Department of the Planet Earth, Inc.

Meg Berlin
Activist/ VTGEAN
(Vermont Genetic Engineering Action Network)

Hylah Egeland

Zelda Wilson

Eldon Ball

Kelly Stoddard

Cedric Lawson

Ingrid K. Loesch

Jeanne Fossani

Rob Fish
GE Free Maine

Peter and Gail Mott, Co-Editors
INTERCONNECT

Sam and Katah
Dragon Dance Theatre

Kelly Quirke
Executive Director
Friends of the Urban Forest

Alex Jack
President
Planetary Health, Inc.
Amberwaves Network

Jeff Conant
Hesperian Foundation/People's Health Movement

Bill Simpich
Declaration of Peace

Melinda McComb

Brad Hippert

Cynthia Hendel

Bob Summers

Kathleen Calhoun

Wendy Scher

Beth Braun
GeneWise

Julie Colangeli

MaryAnn Tellinghusen

Arran E. Thomson

Lauralee Sikorski

Alexis Lathem

Dr. Dorothy K. Cinquemani

Ann Lipsitt
Will Miller Social Justice Lecture Series

Karen Ganey
Stop GE Trees Campaign

Nancy S. Lovejoy

Barbara Grant
Central VT Women\'s International League Peace Freedom

Lewis Lipsitt
Brown University

Hugh Sanborn

Steve Raymen

Jonathan Corcoran

Hiroshi Kanno, President
Concerned Citizens of Newport

Michael Feiner

Deborah Borgono

Matthew Wade
Information Officer
Genewise

Tracey Lee

Ayesha Gill, Ph.D.
Geneticist

Cristian Guerrero
Rising Tide North America

Randy Hayes
International Forum on Globalization

Aaron Sanger
Chile Program Director
ForestEthics

Alexis Wyrofsky

Robin Gorges

Jessica Lawrence
Executive Director
The Borneo Project, USA

Melanie Ellingsen

Nina Berryman

Diana Bohn
Co-Coordinator
Nicaragua Center for Community Action

Kristen Bonnette

Sara Grusky
Water for All Campaign
Food & Water Watch

Tim Hermach
Native Forest Council

Denise Lytle

Paula Palmer, Executive Director
Global Response

David Pike
Katuah Earth First!

Alfredo Quarto, Executive Director
Mangrove Action Project

Julia Shaffer
Mobilization for Global Justice

George Androney

Dr. Glen Barry
President
Ecological Internet, Inc.

Matthew Ennis

Christine Keyser
Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters (BACH)

Jacob Leach

Gabrielle Roesch
NinetyFarms
Washington

Zoe Satorie

Michelle Waters

Craig Williams

Matthew R. Courter
Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)
Seattle, WA

Gene Fox
York Harbor, ME

Tim Keating
Rainforest Relief
New York, NY

Uruguay

RAP-AL Uruguay
Red de Acción en Plaguicidas y sus Alternativas de América Latina

Bioptimistas (Campaña Permanente contra los OGM)

Karin Nansen
REDES Amigos de la Tierra

Raúl Zibechi
Semanario BRECHA

Pablo Machado Mendívil

Brillante Saravia
Grupo Caa-obeti

Dra Isabel Lucas
Grupo Caa-obeti

Ing. Agr. Anahit Aharonian
Coordinadora
COMISIÓN MULTISECTORIAL

Willian Martinez

Alicia Borges Figueroa
GRUPO GUAYUBIRA

Mabel Fosman

Santiago Possamay
Periodista

Emma Grau

Prof. Fernando Tabó
Coordinador Centro Nacional para el Desarrollo Sutentable

Maria Noel Salgado
Coordinadora Maela Cono Sur

Mildred Silva

Lic. María Selva Ortiz
REDES-Amigos de la Tierra

Coordinadora PAYSANDU

Daniel Michelazzo

Àlvaro Brenes Pardiñas

Venezuela

Federación de Organizaciones y Juntas Ambientalistas de Venezuela: "FORJA"

Ignacio Alzuru
Centro para la Gestion Tecnologica Popular

Efrén Calderón Medina
Owaldo Lepage Lista
Foro Ciudadano: Transparencia y Contraloría

Wales

Friends of the Earth Wales

Issues: GE-Trees / International Forest Policies
Languages: