VOA慢速英语--报告称30%的树种濒临灭绝

Report: 30 Percent of Tree Species¹ at Risk of Extinction²

A new report by a British-based plant protection group says almost 30 percent of the world's tree species are at risk of extinction.

The State of the World's Trees report warns that 17,500 tree species are at risk of dying out. And 440 species have fewer than 50 individual trees left in the wild.

The report was recently published by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).

The number of threatened tree species is double the number of threatened mammals, birds, amphibians³ and reptiles⁴ combined, the report said.

In a statement, BGCI Secretary General Paul Smith said, "This report is a wake-up call to everyone around the world that trees need help."

Among the most at-risk trees are species including magnolias and dipterocarps. These trees are commonly found in Southeast Asian rainforests. Oak⁵ trees, maple⁶ trees and ebonies also face threats, the report said.

Trees help support the natural environment and are considered important for fighting global warming and climate change. The extinction of a single tree species could mean the loss of many others.

"Every tree species matters — to the millions of other species that depend on trees, and to people all over the world," Smith said.

The report found that thousands of kinds of trees in the world's top six countries for tree-species diversity are at risk of extinction. The greatest single number is in Brazil, where 1,788 species are at risk.

The other five countries are Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Colombia and Venezuela.

The report said the top three threats facing tree species are crop production, logging and livestock⁷ farming. Climate change and extreme weather are also growing threats.

At least 180 tree species are directly threatened by rising seas and severe weather, the report added. It noted⁸ that island tree species are more at risk than other trees.

"This is particularly concerning because many islands have species of trees that can be found nowhere else," the report said.

Words in This Story

species – n. biology: a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants

extinction – n. when a plant or animal completely dies out

wake-up call – n. something that happens and serves as a warning that action should be taken

diversity – n. a situation in which many different kinds of things or people are included in something

logging – n. the activity of cutting down trees in order to get wood that can be sold

livestock – n. farm animals (such as cows and sheep) used for grazing and roaming

1 species   

n.物种，种群

参考例句：

• Are we the only thinking species in the whole of creation?我们是万物中惟一有思想的物种吗？
• This species of bird now exists only in Africa.这种鸟现在只存在于非洲。

2 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。

3 amphibians   

两栖动物( amphibian的名词复数 )； 水陆两用车； 水旱两生植物； 水陆两用飞行器

参考例句：

• The skin of amphibians is permeable to water. 两栖动物的皮肤是透水的。
• Two amphibians ferry them out over the sands. 两辆水陆两用车把他们渡过沙滩。

4 reptiles   

n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Snakes and crocodiles are both reptiles. 蛇和鳄鱼都是爬行动物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Birds, reptiles and insects come from eggs. 鸟类、爬虫及昆虫是卵生的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 oak   

n.栎树，橡树，栎木，橡木

参考例句：

• The chair is of solid oak.这把椅子是纯橡木的。
• The carpenter will floor this room with oak.木匠将用橡木铺设这个房间的地板。

6 maple   

n.槭树，枫树，槭木

参考例句：

• Maple sugar is made from the sap of maple trees.枫糖是由枫树的树液制成的。
• The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。

7 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。