For Immediate Release, 14 December, 2004

Environmental and Social Justice Groups Condemn Pro-GMO tree decision of UNFCCC

World Rainforest Movement (Uruguay), Friends of the Earth
International, Global Justice Ecology Project (USA), a Mapuche
scientist from Chile and the Union of Ecoforestry (Finland) gave a
presentation yesterday at the Salon del Jardin Botanico in Buenos
Aires Argentina where they condemned the 12/03 decision of the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change to allow use of genetically
engineered (GMO) trees in carbon offset forestry projects developed
to supposedly mitigate global warming emissions.

"GMO trees present tremendous risks to both native forests and
forest-dwelling peoples-especially indigenous peoples," said Ricardo
Carrere of the World Rainforest Movement. "They will worsen the
already severe impacts experienced by communities and ecosystems as a result of industrial tree plantations-impacts like loss of water,
biodiversity, and traditional medicines and foods," he continued.

The UNFCCC made the decision in 2003 very late in the meeting, with
no discussion about the negative impacts of GMO trees. "We are here
to say that GMO trees are unacceptable in any context-this includes
carbon offset forestry," stated Anne Petermann of Global Justice
Ecology Project." The impacts of GMO trees will undoubtably result
in devastation of native forests around the world, worsening global
warming, rather than mitigating it. Not only must GMO trees be
removed from the Kyoto Protocol, they need to be banned globally,"
she continued.

At the event, World Rainforest Movement and Friends of the Earth
International released a new major report on GMO trees, entitled,
"Genetically Modified Trees: The Ultimate Threat to Forests," written
by Chris Lang and available in English and Spanish. In addition,
Global Justice Ecology Project announced the upcoming release of a
video on GMO trees entitled, "The Silent Forest: The Growing Threat
of Genetically Engineered Trees," which will also be available in
English and Spanish beginning in January, 2005. The video will be
narrated by Dr. David Suzuki, a world-renowned geneticist who once
ran the largest genetics laboratory in Canada.

There will also be a press conference denouncing the U.N.'s 2003
decision to include GMO trees in the Kyoto Protocol on Wed., December
15 at 11:00am at the La Rural Conference Center in the Aguaribay
Room. The report will be presented and given to press, a promotional
clip from the video will be shown and an international petition
demanding a UN ban on GMO trees presented.