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Forum to Focus on the Promise and Peril of Transgenic Forests

Nicholas School event will discuss the key to meeting the world's future demands for wood products

The promise and peril of transgenic pine forests will be the central topic of "Landscapes, Genomics & Transgenic Conifer Forests: A Nicholas Environmental Leadership Forum," Nov. 17-19, hosted by the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University.

Forests of fast-growing, disease-resistant genetically modified trees may hold the key to meeting the world's future demands for wood, pulp and paper, said event organizer Claire Williams, visiting professor of environmental sciences and policy at the Nicholas School. They also could reduce the need to harvest wood from old growth or natural stands.

On the other hand, they may result in environmental chaos, promoting the spread of invasive genetically modified species into the world's forest ecosystems, Williams said.

"Our goal at the forum is to identify major policy issues and identify gaps in the research framework, so we know what questions need to be answered next," she said.

The forum, to be held at the Washington Duke Hotel on Duke's campus in Durham, N.C., is a science-based dialogue for policy specialists, research administrators, academicians, government agency representatives and leaders of the nonprofit sector.

Speakers will address broad biological, societal and political issues related to genetically modified conifers, Williams said. They also will discuss how the growing wealth of genomic data now available on conifers could be put to broader use.

Speakers will include many leading researchers and policy experts in genomics, policy and ecology. They include:

  • Jeffrey Boore of the U.S. Department of Energy's Joint Genome Institute, who will give a talk Nov. 17 titled "Will Your Favorite Genome be Sequenced?"
  • Ann Bartuska, deputy chief of the USDA Forest Service, who will speak Nov. 19
  • Joseph Jen, U.S. Undersecretary of Agriculture, who will speak Nov. 19
  • Jesse H. Ausubel of Rockefeller University's Program for the Human Environment, who will present a talk Nov. 18 titled "Precision Forestry"
  • David Richardson, University of Capetown, who will speak Nov. 18 on "Conifers as Invasive Species - Emerging Concepts"
  • Joerg Bohlmann of the University of British Columbia, who will speak Nov. 18 on "Deciphering Mechanisms of Conifer Defense"
  • Maurice Lex of the European Union's Commission on Biosafety, who will speak Nov. 19 on "Public Perceptions of Transgenics and Policy Implications."

Forum sessions will focus on four related themes, Williams said: emerging genomics innovations, gene discovery and transgenic commercialization; ecological interface with biotechnology products; perspectives of private and public land ownership; and pending regulatory changes.

Registration is $350, or $450 after Oct. 15. Lodging is available at a special group rate at the Washington Duke. To register or for further information, visits the forum Web site at www.nicholas.duke.edu/genomicsforum, or contact forum coordinator Nancy Kelly at (919) 613-8090 or genomicsforum@nicholas.duke.edu.