GM trees bloom in rush to feed growing paper industry (please read!) [View All]

I was torn whether to post this article on the Evironment/Energy forum or the Science Forum as another basic question arises from this article: why have we not yet developed a practical, enviro-friendly paper not made from wood pulp? Wood pulp makes CHEAP paper, but not GOOD paper, and the by-products are incredibly nasty. Wood pulp papers are so highly acidic that they don't last more than a few years without major deterioration, becoming yellow and brittle after only a few years (which is why artists still use RAG papers rather than wood pulp paper, which only became common a little over a hundred years ago.) We have entire libraries around the world whose books are falling apart because they were printed on wood pulp paper.

Only when a substitute is developed will this problem be solved, and the demand now for GM trees to feed the ever-growing pulp industry is a frightening consequence.

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=97000
HYDERABAD, JULY 20:

"With the Indian paper and pulp industry placing greater demands on the plantations and forests, there is a growing need for genetically-modified (GM) trees to help the Indian paper industry. Hence, the proposed National Forest Policy is expected to give a thrust to GM trees for boosting the paper industry as well as improving the quality of by-products of wood.

"But since GM trees are grown outside the pale of nature, there is broad consensus among industry experts on the need for sound regulations..."

(snipping)

"The benefits of growing GM trees include increased wood production, improved wood quality and resistance against insects, diseases and herbicides. Besides, production and processing costs of wood or chips could be reduced, thus assisting the paper industry.

"On the other hand, according to an FAO report, the potential risks involved in GM plantation are transgene instability, plantation failure, poor wood quality, development of tolerance to the modified trait by insects or disease organisms and the escape of modified genes into natural ecosystems...."

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For related articles on paper production and the environment, please refer to:

http://www.watershedmedia.org/paper/paper-thecase.html

http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid894.php

http://www.forestethics.org/article.php?id=20

http://www.treecycle.com/papers/alt_fiber.html