纪录片《美丽中国》 第28期 云翔天际（10）（在线收听）

When the tree bark is scored,it yields copious sticky sap,

当树皮被刮开便流出了丰沛的粘液

so bitter and tacky that nothing can feed on it.

没有任何动物能够以这种又苦又粘的液体为食

It's the tree's natural defence against attack.

这是树木面对攻击时的自我保护

It's collected daily,

它每天都被采集

bowl by bowl.

一碗又一碗

It will be boiled and processed into one of the most important materials

液体将被熬制成为一种非常重要的材料

to a fast developing nation - rubber.

橡胶对发展中国家来说尤为关键

The expansion of the rubber forests began in the '50s when China,

中国的橡胶林种植面积在五十年代时急速扩张

under a world rubber embargo,

美国侵略朝鲜期间对当时的中国实行了全面的经济封锁和橡胶禁运

had to become self-sufficient in this vital product.

中国对这种战略原料的需求必须自给自足

Beijing turned to the only place where rubber could grow,

北京当局把目光转向了橡胶树唯一能够快速成材的地方

the tropical south of Yunnan.

位于热带地区的云南南部

With efficiency and speed,

高效快捷的行动开始了

some of the world's richest forests were torn up and burned.

一些世间最丰茂的森林被摧毁并焚烧殆尽

Replaced with mile upon mile of rubber plantation.

取而代之的是成片的的橡胶林

But there was a problem for the rubber growers.

橡胶种植者的问题也接踵而至

While Yunnan's unique natural forests

尽管云南独特的天然林

can survive on the valley slopes which stretch to the north...

能够在延伸到北部的山坡上茁壮成长

just one severe frost will kill off these delicate rubber trees.

可是一场严峻的霜冻就能毁灭这片娇弱的橡胶林

So Yunnan's terrain puts a limit on how far the plantations can spread,

云南的地形为种植范围划定了天然界限

halting at least their northwards advance.

阻碍了向北种植的计划