Supertrees to the rescue?
By Clive Chan

OTTAWA — The mass manufacturing of trees may not be as far off as you think. Scientists can already create perfect copies of a single plant, and have already unlocked the genome of the poplar tree.

Transgenic tree plantations could solve the world's paper problems.

These trees, when ready, can actually save the environment, by taking in more carbon dioxide and require less processing. Plantations of such “super-trees” are viewed as instrumental to protecting our natural ancient forests.

Environmentalists aren’t convinced however. Groups such as Greenpeace, the World Wildlife Fund and the David Suzuki Foundation are all lobbying against these trees, fearing the engineered genes may contaminate our forests, causing havoc in delicate eco-systems.

Corporations are also eagerly looking into transgenic trees as a way to produce paper goods at a lower cost, as well as to create carbon credits to fulfill the conditions of the Kyoto Accord.

So who is right? The genetic modification of trees sits in the grey area between good and evil. Right now, it is hard to say whether these genetically modified trees are the Superman or the Lex Luther for our world’s environment.

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