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Opinion and Comment

Nature Biotechnology 27, 519–527 (1 June 2009) | doi:10.1038/nbt0609-519

Strangled at birth? Forest biotech and the Convention on Biological Diversity

Steven H. Strauss , Huimin Tan , Wout Boerjan & Roger Sedjo

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has become a major focus of activist groups that wish to ban field research and commercial development of all types of genetically modified (GM) trees. Recent efforts to influence CBD recommendations by such groups has led to the adoption of recommendations for increased regulatory stringency that are inconsistent with the views of most scientists and most of the major environmental organizations.