VOA标准英语2009年-Greenpeace: Indonesia's Forest Fires T

Environmental activists¹, climate experts say burning of fossil fuels may account for 20 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions³

Brian Padden | Sumatra, Indonesia 01 December 2009

A 2008 file photo shows Fire near Bukit Tiga Puluh natural forest in Riau, Central Sumatra, Indonesia.

"One of our demands is to ask the developed countries to at least put money on the table, at least 30 billion euros [$44 billion] to helping⁴ countries like Indonesia, who have the forests, to save the forests from deforestation," says Bustar Maitar, an Indonesian Greenpeace leader.

While the burning of fossil fuels is considered the main contribution to global warming from humans, tropical deforestation also plays a significant role. Climate experts say it may account for 20 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental activists say to reduce global warming the international community should pay countries such as Indonesia, Brazil and Congo to protect tropical forests. VOA's Brian Padden traveled with Greenpeace activists to Riau Province on the Indonesian island of Sumatra to look at how deforestation threatens the world.

Burning forests to clear land for agriculture has long been a lucrative⁵ endeavor in Indonesia. Agus Nata is a palm oil farmer who owns eight hectares of land. Years ago he cut down and sold any trees of value on his land. Then he burned what was left.

He says burning the fields is the cheapest and easiest way to clear the land. The global market for the palm fruit he now produces, which can be used to make biofuels, is growing. Large agricultural companies are also clearing and burning vast areas of forest. In the past 50 years, more than 72 million hectares of Indonesia's forest have been destroyed.

For some communities in Indonesia, such rapid deforestation threatens their traditional way of life.
 
Pelli, a fisherman on the Kerumutan river is happy today because he caught a five-kilogram snakehead fish. His family has lived on the river for generations and depends on the forests for wood for his home, his boat, and his nets. He is worried about what would happen if the land near the river were developed.

He says it is dangerous and quite threatening. Where else, he asks, can they find wood to make what they need?

A 2008 file photo shows an Indonesian worker carrying an acacia tree during an area clearing near Bukit Tiga Puluh , Riau, Central Sumatra, Indonesia

Deforestation also has harmful regional effects. Smoke from large forest fires in Indonesia and Malaysia has reached Singapore and other countries in Southeast Asia.

Clearing forests also removes trees that help absorbe greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, or CO2. Many climate experts say CO2 and other greenhouse gases, most of them released by burning fossil fuels, contribute to global warming.

In Sumatra, the problem is compounded because the ground in the jungle is covered with moist decaying vegetation known as peat. The peat stores vast quantities of the carbon dioxide. Environmental organizations such as Greenpeace say that drying and burning peat releases the CO2 into the atmosphere. Because of deforestation, Indonesia is now the world's third largest greenhouse gas emitter, after the United States and China.

Volunteers from Greenpeace are building a dam in Sumatra to focus on both local and international solutions to the problem. The dam will restore an area of peat-land forest that was damaged by fire. Greenpeace is using the project to encourage Indonesian volunteers like local student Joni Heriadi to become more involved in protecting the local environment.

He says he wants to join Greenpeace because he sees so much destruction of the forests.
 
Greenpeace also brought international journalists here to see the deforestation firsthand.

Bustar Maitar, an Indonesian Greenpeace leader, says these activities are part of a global campaign to urge rich countries to provide financial incentives⁶ to developing countries to stop deforestation.

"One of our demands is to ask the developed countries to at least put money on the table, at least 30 billion euros [$44 billion] to helping countries like Indonesia, who have the forests, to save the forests from deforestation, to solve the climate crisis, what we are facing now," he explained.  "Without that we are not confident we can solve the problem of the climate crisis," he said.

The issue will be on the agenda at upcoming global climate talks in Copenhagen. Nations will meet to try to hammer out a deal to reduce emissions both from industrial activity in developed nations and from deforestation in developing nations. One mechanism⁷ being considered would allow a polluting industry to pay another business or government to reduce emissions, which could pay countries to leave forests standing⁸.

However, it is not clear an agreement will be reached in Copenhagen, as some developed countries, including the United States, say they want the large developing countries to commit to binding⁹ emission² cuts, which nations such as .. have rejected.

Maitar says without international assistance little can be done to stop developers from burning the forests for short-term profit and long-term global environmental damage.

 

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 emission   

n.发出物，散发物；发出，散发

参考例句：

• Rigorous measures will be taken to reduce the total pollutant emission.采取严格有力措施，降低污染物排放总量。
• Finally,the way to effectively control particulate emission is pointed out.最后，指出有效降低颗粒排放的方向。

3 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 lucrative   

adj.赚钱的，可获利的

参考例句：

• He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
• It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。

6 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

7 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

8 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

9 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。