2006年VOA标准英语-Environmentalists Blast Ugandan President For P

By Cathy Majtenyi
Nairobi
14 December 2006

Environmental groups and others are upset with the Ugandan president's plans to clear-cut some of the country's remaining forests to make room for plantations² that he says will boost the economy. Cathy Majtenyi reports from VOA's East Africa bureau in Nairobi.

 
Yoweri Museveni 
President Yoweri Museveni's plans target two forested areas: the island of Bugala on Lake Victoria; and Mabira Forest Reserve, which has been protected since 1932.

A local palm oil company, called Bidco, has been seeking a license³ to remove forests on Bugala Island to set up a plantation¹ there.

Meanwhile, the Mehta Group of companies wants to clear-cut about 7,000 hectares, almost one-third, of the Mabira Forest Reserve to expand its sugar operations.

In parliament this week, Museveni defended the clear-cutting plans. He said Uganda is, "a very backward country", and the reason for that, he said, is because Uganda is not industrialized.

The president's push for the two projects angers environmentalists, such as Arthur Bainomugisha, research director with the Advocates Coalition⁴ for Development and the Environment.

"We are shocked and alarmed that the president has consistently undermined the integrity of our environment," he said, " in spite of the pressure from both within and from without, and also empirical evidence that the forests and the natural resources have a direct relationship with what is happening on the environmental crisis that we are facing, which has to do with the declining levels of waters in Lake Victoria, River Nile and other rivers."

Many scientists maintain there is a link between deforestation and climate change.

They say forests trap moisture, keep temperatures cool and supply rainfall to the area by creating cloud cover. They also absorb excess carbon dioxide and other harmful gasses linked to global warming.

 
Water levels in Lake Victoria have dropped dramatically causing landing problems for the local fishermen, and destroying the breeding grounds for fish, 1 Nov 2006
Many scientists say cutting down forests results in less rainfall, decreased lake and river levels and warmer temperatures.

Environmentalist Bainomugisha tells VOA that forest covered 20 percent of Uganda 40 years ago, and now covers just seven percent.

He says environmental mismanagement is costly⁵ for his country.

"His [Museveni] minister of finance, this year, in June, when they were reading the budget, gave two reasons why the national development objectives could not be met last year, 2005-2006," he said.

"One, because of persistent⁶ drought; and two, because of the power shortage, or the energy crisis, all of which have an implication on the way we have managed the environment and natural resources," he continued.

When contacted by VOA, the senior presidential advisor⁷ would not comment on the issue, saying only that Ugandans have mixed opinions on the plans.

At the end of November, more than 2,000 protesters from Uganda, the United States, Israel and other places signed a petition urging President Museveni not to parcel out land from the Mabira Forest Reserve.

And, regarding Bugala Island, in early December, the executive director of the National Forestry⁸ Authority (NFA), Olav Bjella, resigned over his refusal to give Bidco a license to remove forests there.

According to the Uganda Tourism Board, eco-tourism generated some $300 million for Uganda last year.

1 plantation   

n.种植园，大农场

参考例句：

• His father-in-law is a plantation manager.他岳父是个种植园经营者。
• The plantation owner has possessed himself of a vast piece of land.这个种植园主把大片土地占为己有。

2 plantations   

n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Soon great plantations, supported by slave labor, made some families very wealthy. 不久之后出现了依靠奴隶劳动的大庄园，使一些家庭成了富豪。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• Winterborne's contract was completed, and the plantations were deserted. 维恩特波恩的合同完成后，那片林地变得荒废了。 来自辞典例句

3 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

4 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

5 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

6 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

7 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

8 forestry   

n.森林学；林业

参考例句：

• At present, the Chinese forestry is being at a significant transforming period. 当前, 我国的林业正处于一个重大的转折时期。
• Anhua is one of the key forestry counties in Hunan province. 安化县是湖南省重点林区县之一。