Recent news of a break-in and cutting down of GE trees in Scion's experiments should serve to highlight some important issues.
There is sustained concern in the Bay of Plenty (and other parts of NZ) about the proposal by Scion to experiment with 4,000 GE pine trees outdoors. Bay of Plenty Regional Council, various conservation groups and hundreds of other submitters opposed this risky Scion application.
Part of the threat from GE pine trees comes from the dangers of transgenic pollution from GE pine pollen, or horizontal gene transfer which could have unintended adverse impacts on the environment, including harm to NZ soils.
Another risk is lowered productivity from toppling and snapping of pines that already are prone to that problem.
GE pines could also cost a neighbouring forester or property owner their hard won Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.
The FSC has identified a number of other legitimate scientific concerns about the safety and appropriateness of planting genetically engineered trees including asexual transfer of genes from GMO's with antibiotic resistance to pathogenic micro-organisms, increased resistance of target insect pests, reduced adaptability to environmental stresses, increased weediness or invasiveness in GMO trees with new features, and the spread of herbicide resistance genes.
These hazards, and the uncertainties about them, are the reason for the prohibition of the use of GMO's in certified forests, stated in the FSC Principles and Criteria.
Scion, stop growing GE trees in Bay of Plenty, a prime forestry area!

Dr Ron Lopert, Welcome Bay.