VOA标准英语2013--水电项目威胁波斯尼亚自然保护区

 

Bosnian Nature Reserve Threatened by Hydroelectricity Project 水电项目威胁波斯尼亚自然保护区

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A small corner of paradise, called Hutovo Blato, is located in the southern part of Bosnia-Herzegovina. With its abundant vegetation, an immense blue lake set against a mountainous backdrop, and rich marshlands, Hutovo Blato attracts nature lovers as well as more than 240 species of migratory¹ birds every year. It was declared a protected nature reserve in 1995. 

Now, environmental groups say a planned power plant in the vicinity and other projects linked to it would destroy this lovely nature spot.

"The Hutovo Blato swamps will turn into peatland, and reeds. There'll be no more water, and it will become so damaged that it will no longer be of any environmental value. All the birds and other animals will emigrate and you might as well sow corn here," said Marinko Dalmatin, a Bosnian ornithologist².

The proposed hydroelectric network begun in the 1970s and will eventually include several hydroelectric power stations in Bosnia and in neighboring Croatia.  To get these new power stations up and running, water must be diverted from Hutovo Blato.  Radivoje Bratic, the director of a plant currently under construction, feels that compromises must be reached between development and conservation.

"We can't build a power plant without consequences, but the question is how serious are they? Our objective is to reduce these effects as much as we can. But I have to say that these negative effects can't be avoided altogether," said Bratic.

The environmental damage goes beyond Hutovo Blato.  Fruit growers and farmers from the nearby Metkovic region, in Croatia, say their crops, already being damaged by salinization, are facing further risk.

"All our crops are suffering and the water that we have here is already toxic³ because it is too salty," said Mate Kaleb, a Croatian farmer.

The World Wildlife Fund has warned that Hutovo Blato is already under great pressure from the existing 10 hydropower plants in the watersheds⁴ of the Neretva and Trebi?njica rivers. Nonetheless, an additional seven are being planned. 

1 migratory   

n.候鸟，迁移

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• This does not negate the idea of migratory aptitude.这并没有否定迁移能力这一概念。

2 ornithologist   

n.鸟类学家

参考例句：

• That area is an ornithologist's paradise.那个地区是鸟类学家的天堂。
• Now I know how an ornithologist feels.现在我知道做为一个鸟类学家的感受了。

3 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

4 watersheds   

n.分水岭( watershed的名词复数 )；分水线；转折点；流域

参考例句：

• Hyetographs are important in estimating stormflow hydrographs from upstream watersheds. 降雨历线资料为上游集水区推估洪水流量历线的重要依据。 来自互联网
• Sediments check dam in small watersheds in loess hilly gully area come from three proportion, i. 黄土丘陵沟壑区治沟骨干工程泥沙淤积来源于坡面侵蚀、沟道侵蚀和库区岸坡坍塌。 来自互联网