Deforestation Decreased Over the Past 10 Years

    This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.
    这里是美国之音慢速英语农业报道。

    The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization says deforestation has decreased over the past ten years. But it still continues at a high rate in many countries. Deforestation is mainly caused by the cutting down of tropical forests to provide land for agriculture. The world's total forest area is just over four billion hectares. About thirteen million hectares of forest were cut down or lost through natural causes each year in the last ten years. This compares with about sixteen million hectares per year during the nineteen nineties.
    联合国粮食和农业组织说,森林砍伐率在过去十年有所下降。但是,在许多国家仍然存在高砍伐率。这主要是由于砍伐热带森林转为农业用地
    。世界森林总面积刚超过40亿公顷。在过去十年里,每年约13万公顷的森林因为砍伐或自然原因流失。而在19世纪90年代的每年流失的森林面积约为16万公顷。

    The FAO study covers two hundred thirty-three countries and areas. The study found that Brazil and Indonesia have reduced their deforestation rates. The two countries had the highest loss of forests in the nineteen nineties. In addition, the study noted tree-planting programs in countries such as China, India, Vietnam and the United States. These programs, along with natural expansion of forests in some areas, have added more than seven million hectares of new forests each year.
    粮农组织的研究范围包括233个国家和地区。研究发现,巴西和印尼降低了它们的森林砍伐率,这两个国家在19世纪90年代存在着全球最严重的
    森林流失。此外,研究注意到中国,印度,越南和美国等国的植树造林工程。这些植树造林工程,以及某些地区森林的自然扩张,每年新增超过7百万公顷的森林。

    South America and Africa had the highest yearly loss of forests during the last ten years. South America lost four million hectares. Africa lost almost three and a half million hectares. However, Asia gained more than two million hectares a year in the last decade. In North America and Central America, the forest area remained about the same. In Europe, it continued to expand, but at a slower rate than earlier.
    在过去10年里,南美洲和非洲每年存在着全球最严重的森林流失。南美失去4百万公顷,非洲失去了近350万公顷森林。然而,在过去的十年里
    ,亚洲每年新增了超过200万公顷森林。在北美和中美洲的森林面积基本保持不变。在欧洲,森林面积继续扩大,只是增长速度比以前有所下降

    Eduardo Rojas is assistant director-general of F.A.O.'s Forestry Department. He said for the first time, the rate of deforestation has decreased around the world. This is the result of efforts taken at local and international levels. Mister Rojas said countries have improved their forest policies and legislation. They have also provided forests for use by local communities and native peoples and for the protection of biological diversity. He said this is a welcome message in two thousand ten – the International Year of Biodiversity.
    Eduardo Rojas是粮农组织林业部的助理署长。他表示,森林砍伐率在世界范围内的减少是第一次出现。这是地方和全球共同努力的结果。
    Rojas先生表示,各国都改善了其森林政策和立法。他们还为当地居民和土著民提供日常用林,以及保护生物多样性用林。他说,这是迎接2010国际生物多样性年的好消息。

    However, Mister Rojas said the rate of deforestation is still very high in many areas. He said countries must strengthen their efforts to better protect and manage their forests.
    然而,Rojas先生表示,森林砍伐率在许多地区依然很高。他说,各国必须加强努力,以更好地保护和管理本国森林。

    And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. You can find transcripts, MP3s, podcasts and captioned videos at 51voa.com. I'm Bob Doughty.
    以上就是本期美国之音慢速英语农业报道,由Jerilyn Watson撰写。您可以在51voa.com查阅文本,音频,播客和相应视频。我是Bob Doughty