Australia comes close to holding the record in mucking up its environment by importing plants and animals that nearly destroyed Australia's uniqu flora and fauna. They even had to build thousands of miles of fences to keep non-indigenous rabbits from invading new territory. Now we have a company that thinks its genetically engineered for withstanding colder zones Eucalyptus trees should be sold in US. They grow like weeds and suck up water big time - goodbye native pine trees!

Even after the Oakland Hills Firestorm of 1991 (which NASA has named the "worst urban disaster in US history"), people are still fighting to keep the city from cutting down the eucalyptus.

I am really glad I live in the flatlands, where we have no eucalyptus to speak of...

I had a friend who just made it out of that fire and lost everything but what was in his car and on his back. The trees are beautiful but don't belong in US. Being great tinder for firestorms is just one problem. But they grow fast and seemed to be great for windbreas.

Thanks for comment.