VOA标准英语2009年-Australia Plans New Approach to Save Fragi

Australian Environment Minister Peter Garrett warns that efforts to save some endangered plants and animals may be abandoned due to a lack of money. Garrett says the government plans to concentrate on protecting fragile ecosystems¹ rather than individual species.
　
Peter Garrett

Peter Garrett says Australia's record of protecting its biodiversity has been poor. He proposes a more "holistic² and strategic" approach to protecting vulnerable species.

The country is investigating more cost-effective ways to protect the environment as budgets have been hit hard by the global economic slowdown.

Saving entire ecosystems rather than focusing on individual species is part of the government's plan. This would include enhancing efforts to safeguard the Great Barrier Reef. It stretches for more than 2,000 kilometers along Australia's northeast coast and is home to a wonderful array of mollusks, fish, sea snakes and birds.

The World Heritage Area attracts more than 2 million visitors every year, but is being degraded by warming ocean temperatures, pollution and over-fishing.
　
View of Australia's Great Barrier Reef

Like most countries, Australia has to balance economic growth with protecting its environment. But Environment Minister Garrett says the country will pay a heavy price if does not protect valuable areas.

"There's not only, if you like, a spiritual aura or cultural cost we pay, but there's also an economic cost," Garrett said. "If you look at the value of the Great Barrier Reef, it's World Heritage listed, it's one of the most fantastic collections of coral and diversity of marine³ life. It also generates billions of dollars every year to our economy."

The government thinks the country's rich biodiversity underpins⁴ its quality of life, economy and national identity.

There are 1,770 threatened plants and animals in Australia and the continent's wealth of flora⁵ and fauna⁶ is diminishing quickly.

The list of critically endangered species includes the grey nurse shark, of which only about 500 survive off eastern Australia and the armoured mist frog, which has not been seen since the mid⁷ 1990s.

Scientists say that Australia's rate of extinction⁸ could rise with climate change as warmer temperatures may increase the incidence of severe droughts, floods and storms.

1 ecosystems   

n.生态系统( ecosystem的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There are highly sensitive and delicately balanced ecosystems in the forest. 森林里有高度敏感、灵敏平衡的各种生态系统。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Madagascar's ecosystems range from rainforest to semi-desert. 马达加斯加生态系统类型多样，从雨林到半荒漠等不一而足。 来自辞典例句

2 holistic   

adj.从整体着眼的，全面的

参考例句：

• There is a fundamental ambiguity in the use of word "whole" in recent holistic literature.在近代的整体主义著作中，“整体”这个词的用法极其含混。
• In so far as historicism is technological,its approach is not piecemeal,but "holistic".仅就历史决定论是一种技术而论，它的方法不是渐进的，而是“整体主义的”。

3 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

4 underpins   

n.基础材料( underpin的名词复数 )；基础结构；（学说、理论等的）基础；（人的）腿v.用砖石结构等从下面支撑（墙等）( underpin的第三人称单数 )；加固（墙等）的基础；为（论据、主张等）打下基础；加强

参考例句：

• A powerful sense of mission underpins everything he does. 一种强烈的使命感支撑他所做的一切。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His presence at the crime underpins the case against him. 案子发生时他在场对他更不利。 来自辞典例句

5 flora   

n.(某一地区的)植物群

参考例句：

• The subtropical island has a remarkably rich native flora.这个亚热带岛屿有相当丰富的乡土植物种类。
• All flora need water and light.一切草木都需要水和阳光。

6 fauna   

n.(一个地区或时代的)所有动物，动物区系

参考例句：

• This National Park is an area with unique fauna and flora.该国家公园区域内具有独特的动物种群和植物种群。
• Fauna is a biological notion means all the animal life in a particular region or period. 动物群是一个生物学的概念，指的是一个特定时期或者地区的所有动物。

7 mid   

adj.中央的，中间的

参考例句：

• Our mid-term exam is pending.我们就要期中考试了。
• He switched over to teaching in mid-career.他在而立之年转入教学工作。

8 extinction   

n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种

参考例句：

• The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
• The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。