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IMPLICATIONS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

A combined symposium and discussion session, Biodiversity and Biotechnology: Understanding the Potential Conservation Risks and Benefits of Genetic Engineering (GE), was held at the 2004 annual meeting. Participants educated themselves on the issues by attending 11 symposium presentations and discussing potential actions SCB might take to address the roles (positive and negative) of biotechnology in the conservation of biodiversity. Topics included the use of genetic engineering for conservation purposes (e.g., using GE carp to control non-native carp populations in Australia), the role and limitations of ecological risk assessment (e.g., how risk assessment might address impacts to non-targets and community dynamics), and how SCB members might become more involved in the conservation issues surrounding genetic engineering (e.g., commenting and advising on risk assessment initiatives and public policies).

The topic of risk assessment took center stage during both the symposium and the discussion. The intricacies of risk assessment reflected SCB's multidisciplinary membership: the science, policy, social consequences, limitations, and even philosophical underpinnings of risk assessment were discussed at length. One participant concluded the event with the observation that, by becoming more involved in defining scientific and ethical guidelines for adequate risk assessment, conservation biologists might be in a better position to advocate for the development and evaluation of biotechnologies that serve the public good.

Watch for a complete symposium summary, updates on the issues, and an opportunity to comment on this topic at www.ellenjay.net/SCB/Biotech.html.

Kelly Paulson and Erika Rivers
Conservation Biology Program, University of Minnesota

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