| Devon
RSPB says "No" to GM crops |
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| Skylark
populations would be devastated if damaging GM crops were allowed,
says the RSPB |
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With
the debate raging over whether GM crops should be grown in the UK,
the RSPB in Devon has stepped in to the controversy by calling for
a ban on the GM crops which damage the environment. |
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The Royal
Society for the Protection of Birds in Devon has called for a ban
on damaging GM crops, saying they are bad for wildlife and birds.
On the day that the results of GM
crop trials were released, the RSPB said two of the three GM crops
tested shouldn't be allowed to be grown commercially.
The national trials found that GM beet and GM spring oilseed rape
had a bad effect on the environment.
Seed numbers were reduced by up to 80% compared with conventional
beet and oilseed rape - and farmland birds rely greatly on seeds.
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| Sparrows
would also be affected by the GM crops |
Director
of conservation at the RSPB, Dr Mark Avery, said: "The commercialisation
of GM beet and oilseed rape could be disastrous for birds.
"The Government is committed to reversing bird declines and has
promised to ban GM crops if they damage the environment."
The RSPB says the Government now has no choice but to refuse approval
for the two GM crops.
Peter Exley, of the RSPB in Devon, said: "Declines in many familiar
farmland birds, such as skylarks, corn buntings, tree sparrows and
yellowhammers, in South West England have been amongst the most severe
in the whole country.
"The introduction of these crops could be disastrous, and undermine
the efforts of conservationists and many farmers to reverse the declines
in our region's farmland birds."
And Dr David Gibbons, head of conservation science at the RSPB added:
"There will be far less food for farmland birds if GM beet and
spring oilseed rape are grown commercially.
"Agricultural intensification has already caused declines of
these birds and these two crops will undoubtedly worsen their plight."
* The third trial was GM maize, which was found to be better for wildlife
than conventional maize - but most of the test sites used a chemical
banned by the EU.
The RSPB wants more research on maize before conclusions are drawn
on the environmental effects of GM maize.
To read more about the results of the trials, click onto the link
near the top of this page.
Article first published: 16th October 2003
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