特别广播英语第 109 课：Saving the Rainforests for Future Generations
拯救热带雨林，造福子孙万代-1

Rainforests are being cut and burned form Brazil to Indonesia at such a rate that they could well disappear from the earth's surface before the year 2050. 从巴西到印尼，热带雨林正在被砍伐，正在被烧毁，其速度非常之快，以致于到不了2050年，热带雨林就会被砍光烧光而从地球表面上彻底消失。

They are being cleared for valuable timber and other resources to speed up the economic growth of the nations in which they are located. 为了获取贵重木材和其他资源，以加速处于热带雨林国家的经济发展，热带雨林正在逐渐被砍伐得干干净净一棵树都不剩了。

The most recent figures show that the area of rainforest destroyed last year alone was bigger than the size of Great Britain and Ireland. 最近的统计数字表明，仅去年一年被吸掉的热带雨林的面积比英国和爱尔兰两国的面积加起来还大。

If the present rate of deforestation is allowed to continue, the consequences for the earth will be great. 如果听任现在的热带雨林被毁掉的百分比继续发展下去，给整个地球所带来的后果将是十分严重的。

We shall see a massive upsetting of ecosystems, very large increases in soil erosion, increases in flooding and in drought, changes in rainfall patterns and regional, quite possibly global, changes in climate. 我们将会看到（1） 各种生态系统的平衡均遭到大规模的破坏；（2）水土流失现象大规模地增加了；（3）水灾和旱灾大规模增加了；（4）降雨的方式改变了；（5）地区性的气候改变，甚至完全可能导致全球性气候的改变。

We shall also probably lose many rare plant and animal species. 我们也许会永远失去很多种珍稀的植物和动物。

According to many scientists, the burning of rainforests is also directly contributing to the so-called greenhouse effect. 根据许多科学家报告，烧毁了热带雨林也直接导致了所谓的温室效应。

This effect, they say, is raising average temperatures and sea levels as the polar ice caps recede. 科学家们都说，这种温室效应正在使全球平均气温升高，正在使南极和北极地区的冰盖融化，随之而来的也正在使全球海洋的水平面上升。

The rainforest is essential in other areas also. It is a medicine chest of unlimited potential. 从其他方面来看，热带雨林对人类也是必不可缺的。热带雨林是一个有着无限潜在能力的取之不尽用之不竭的医药资源的万宝库。