地球的力量 第5集 稀有行星（27）：開拓新土地

So, healthy forests like those I've experienced inMadagascar

所以像我在馬達加斯加見到過的健康森林

play a vital role in regulating the planet's climate.

在調(diào)解地球氣候中發(fā)揮重要的作用

But the pristine natural beauty of this island isn't all that it seems.

但是這個島原始的自然美并不是表面看起來那樣

This is one of the most famous places in Madagascar.

這是馬達加斯加最著名的地方

These giants are the baobab trees, the island's national symbol.

這些巨大的猴面包樹是這個島的國家象征

They're actually a symbol of something else as well.

它們實際上也象征著其它的事物

The only reason you can see them

你還能看到它的唯一原因

is that all the other trees have been cut down.

是因為其它的樹都已被砍伐

The baobabs remain because to the local people,they're sacred.

猴面包樹還在，是因為當?shù)厝?他們都是圣人

Right across Madagascar, the forest is under attack.

就在馬達加斯加對面那里的樹林正在被破壞

Wherever you go, you catch the smell of wood smoke,

不管你走到哪里都能聞到木材燃燒的氣味

the smell of farmers clearing the jungle

農(nóng)民在清理叢林

because the local practice, known as tavi, uses fire to open up new land.

因為當?shù)爻３Ｓ眠@種辦法來開拓新土地

These days, there's only about a fifth of the island's original jungle left.

如今大概世界上只剩下五分之一的原始叢林

Of course, deforestation is not a problem that's confined to Madagascar.

當然，森林流失并不是 馬達加斯加一個國家面臨的問題

In Bolivia, this area of rainforest covering more than 20,000 square miles

在玻利維亞，這片熱帶雨林 曾經(jīng)有兩萬平方英里

was turned into farmland and towns in just 20 years.

20年內(nèi)變成了田地和城鎮(zhèn)