GMO crops On/Near Wildlife Refuges in the West?

by Catherine Haug, May 3, 2011

Thanks to Sally J for sending me this information.

On March 1, 2010, the Center for Food Safety (with other organizations) “filed a suit in federal court against the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service seeks to compel the Service to uproot genetically engineered (GE) crops from its Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware. As many as 80 other national wildlife refuges across the country now growing GE crops are vulnerable to similar suits.” For more, see Lawsuit Filed to Bar GE Crops from National Wildlife Refuge.

Now the Center for Food Safety wants our help regarding mountain-prairie national wildlife refuges in the west. Your action is needed by May 6, 2011.

From The Center for Food Safety newsletter:

National Wildlife Refuge Survey – Mountain-Prairie Region

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has allowed farming of genetically engineered soybeans and corn on several National Wildlife Refuges in the Southeast Region. The Service’s Mountain-Prairie Region (Region 6) is home to a rich diversity of natural resources spread across 8 states: Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. The Center for Food Safety is concerned that, among other things, the Fish & Wildlife Service made the approval without considering the risks to the environment or wildlife posed by cultivating genetically engineered crops in these refuges. National Wildlife Refuges are important places for wildlife and serve as wintering and breeding habitat for migratory waterfowl, among other restorative purposes. Genetically engineered crops have no place in wildlife refuges, and we need your help to stop it.

We are looking for information from members who live near or visit National Wildlife Refuges in these states. NWRs are a great place for birding and other outdoor recreation.  If you have visited, or reside near a National Wildlife Refuge in the Mountain-Prairie Region, or if you are an organic farmer near a Refuge we could use your help. In your email, please tell us: 1) Where you live, 2) Which refuge(s) you visit or farm near, and 3) The last time visited for each refuge. Reply to office@centerforfoodsafety.org or call 415-826-2770. Please contact us by May 6, 2011.

Thank you.

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