Species Threatened by GM Crops17 February 1999
An unpublished government 'consultation' paper obtained by Friends of the Earth shows that the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has continuing reservations over the possible impacts of genetically modified (GM) crop use on farmland wildlife. Although written last autumn, Genetically Modified Crops: Wider Issues - Biodiversity in the Agricultural Environment has still not been published. [Note: it was published two days after Friends of the Earth broke this story].
The paper confirms, for example, that "there are concerns that the current regulatory regime may fail to identify long-term indirect effects on biodiversity resulting from commercial use of GM crops in agriculture, if particular management methods, such as herbicide use for weed control, are encouraged." The paper goes on to observe that "whether or not the crop itself was considered to pose a low risk to human health or the environment, widespread commercial uptake by farmers could result in declines in certain wildlife species."
The paper notes that GM crops might undermine Government policy to protect wildlife. It is feared by environmental groups that species targeted for special protection could face further reductions because of GM crop use. Species listed by FOE as potentially threatened include: brown hare, pipistrelle and greater horseshoe bat, skylark, song thrush and great crested newt.
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