the real facts about nitens

In relation to the trees themselves
There are no genetically modified E. nitens (shining gum) trees in Tasmania.
Shining gum being grown in Tasmania is from seed originally collected from
native stands of wet eucalypt forests in Victoria.
Trees growing in Tasmania are the grandchildren of trees standing in
Victorian native forest.
Trees used as seed source have been chosen for their fast growth.
In relation to the leaf chemistry
Shining gums in Tasmanian plantations and Victorian Native Forest have the
same leaf chemistry.
The impacts on water quality of plantation grown Shining gum leaf chemistry
and native forest Shining gum leaf chemistry would therefore be the same.
Victorias wet eucalypt forests provide Victorians with some of the best
drinking water quality in the world.
The Eucalyptus genus is not considered highly toxic to organisms. Many
insects and animals in Tasmania (possums, wallabies, chrysomelids)
continuously consume great volumes of shining gum leaves.
The compounds in eucalypts (including E. nitens) are not particularly toxic
and any effects on animals could only derive from the large concentrations
that are ingested when feeding exclusively on such leaves.
Interactions between native flora and fauna and eucalypt leaf chemicals are
entirely natural.
In relation to land use
The catchment of Georges Bay has been dominated by Eucalypt forests since
prior to European settlement and is still 74% native forest.
22.4% of the Georges River catchment has been cleared to non-forest use
(urban and agricultural) since European settlement