Tell Wildlife Refuges: Don't Feed the Birds GE Crops

by Sarah Newman · 2011-01-13 06:00:00 UTC
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It looks like the U.S. Department of Agriculture is set to approve genetically-modified alfalfa, another blow to efforts to stop the growing nationwide use of genetically-engineered (GE) crops.

So this may be a good time to note some recent positive news that should buoy activists: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided to end the use of GE crops in all national wildlife refuges in a dozen Northeastern states, as a result of pressure from advocacy groups. This announcement was the result of a settlement to a lawsuit brought by conservation and food safety groups, including the Center for Food Safety, Delaware Audubon Society and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.

While one might imagine wildlife refuges as pristine, dramatic, natural areas providing protected environments for flora and fauna, there's much more there taking root. Historically, farming has been allowed in national wildlife refuges to prepare and seed native grasslands and provide food for birds. However, in recent years, farmers have primarily been growing GE crops on these lands.

National Wildlife Refuges are meant to be a refuge for wildlife and native plants, not farmers. Yet the potential impacts of GE crops that are unnatural to these environmentally-sensitive areas are serious. Their usage requires large quantities of pesticides which endanger wildlife and enhance the possibility of new, pesticide-resistant superweeds, for example.

"GE crops serve no legitimate refuge purpose, thus refuge officials must resort to outright fictions to claim these crops benefit wildlife," stated Paula Dinerstein of PEER.

With the new settlement, now the conversion of  hundreds of acres in northeast refuges to GE crops farms has been deemed illegal.

On the heels of this victory, these same advocacy groups are now looking to Southern refuges where GE crops continue to be grown.

You can also get involved today by signing this petition today to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Ask the agency to stop growing GE crops in all national wildlife refuges.

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Photo:U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region via Flickr

Sarah Newman is Research Manager, Social Action for Participant Media

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