FORT PIERCE, Florida – An alliance of conservation organizations is suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture over its approval of open-air field tests of a genetically engineered hybrid of eucalyptus tree across the southern United States.

The “plan to produce up to half a billion GE eucalyptus seedlings annually for planting across the U.S. South,” said Anne Petermann of Global Justice Ecology Project and the STOP GE Trees Campaign, “would be another disaster for these beleaguered Gulf coast states, leading to a loss of native forests and biodiversity, depleting ground water and worsening climate change.” (Eucalyptus tree photo by Flickr user rhysdjones) The permit, issued to a company called ArborGen, which is a joint initiative of International Paper, MeadWestvaco and Rubicon, was approved May 12 with what the plaintiffs claim is “minimal” environmental review.

It authorizes the experimental planting and flowering of a new, genetically engineered hybrid on 29 sites across seven southern states – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas.

“In refusing to prepare a detailed environmental review, the Department of Agriculture ignored serious risks before permitting this action,” said Marc Fink, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the plaintiff groups.

“Federal agencies can’t be allowed to neglect their duty to the public trust,” said Fink. “Once this genie is out of the bottle and escapes to neighboring lands, it’s irreversible.” Dr. Jeff Wright is ArborGen’s senior scientist, eucalyptus sales and silvicultural systems. (Photo courtesy ArborGen)