March 27, 2000 / Broadcast News
VICTORIA -- A research project into why some Pacific spruce trees are able
to fight off insects has been set back five years after, according to this
story, a few hours of vandalism.
Hundreds of seedlings and a number of older trees have been destroyed at the
B-C Forest Ministry nursery near Victoria.
David Reid with the Forests Ministry was cited as saying the study involved
Northern spruce to see why the trees have the natural ability to resist
weevil, which are killing spruce in the south.
Last fall an organization protesting genetic engineering claimed credit for
a similar attack.
Reid says if this is the same situation, the group is way off base because
they weren't genetically modifying the trees.
Damage is estimated at around 100-thousand dollars.
(posted without permission)
