Scientists warn that more than a third of tree species face extinction 科學傢警告稱全球超過三分之一的樹種瀕臨滅絕

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Scientists warn that more than a third of tree species face extinction

科學傢警告稱全球超過三分之一的樹種瀕臨滅絕

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Trees are vital to help clean the air we breathe, soak up carbon emissions and provide a home for thousands of different birds, mammals and insects.

樹木能為清潔我們呼吸的空氣和吸收碳排放提供重要的幫助，並且為成千上萬種不同的鳥類、哺乳動物和昆蟲提供瞭傢園。

Yet it’s been revealed that more than a third of trees around the world are in trouble.

但有研究結果顯示世界上超過三分之一的樹種都遇到瞭生存困境。

Experts here at Kew worked on the latest Extinction Red List, which found deforestation is a major threat to life on Earth.

英國皇傢植物園邱園的專傢參與瞭瀕危物種紅色名錄的編輯工作，該名錄發現砍伐森林對地球上的生物造成瞭嚴重威脅。

Emily Beech, Botanic Gardens Conservation International
“38% of the world’s trees are threatened with extinction, more than all the threatened mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles added together. So a huge number of species. And these are found all across the world, in 192 countries there is a threat on tree species. So, yeah, there’s work to do everywhere.”

艾米麗·比奇國際植物園保護聯盟
“世界上 38% 的樹種都有滅絕的危險，其品種數量比所有受威脅的哺乳動物、鳥類、兩棲動物和爬行動物加起來還要多。受到威脅的品種數量巨大。這些品種遍及全球，在 192 個國傢都有樹種受到瞭威脅。所以說，到處都有保護工作需要完成。”

Helen Briggs, AYYBLOG correspondent
“The extinction list is an ever-growing tally of living things facing extinction with more than 16,000 tree species at risk, like this Wollemi pine. And if you take away the trees, you lose habitat for other living things from birds to mammals.”

海倫·佈裡格斯 AYYBLOG 通訊員
“瀕危物種紅色名錄是一份不斷增長的記錄，涵蓋瞭各種面臨滅絕風險的生物，其中包括 16000 個樹種，比如這株沃勒米松樹（Wollemi pine）。如果樹木消失的話，其他生物也會失去它們的棲息地，不論是鳥類還是哺乳動物等等。”

And it’s not just trees joining the unenviable list – animals and birds are highlighted too, such as the much-loved hedgehog, whose fortunes are going from bad to worse as wild spaces disappear.

這張令人避之不及的名單上不僅僅有樹種，一些動物和鳥類品種也被標註瞭出來，比如廣受人們喜愛的刺蝟。隨著野外生存環境的不斷消失，這種動物的生存條件每況愈下。

Kevin Martin, Head of Trees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
“Now that swelling on the branch is what kills the branch, and that’s what causes the tree to die eventually.”

凱文·馬丁樹種負責人，皇傢植物園邱園
“樹枝上腫脹的這個部分就是讓這個樹枝凋零的元兇，這最終會導致這棵樹死亡。”

With time running out, scientists are trying to find solutions. And here at Kew, this living library of trees is helping with conservation in the wild.

隨著時間逐漸緊迫，科學傢們正在嘗試尋找解決方案。而在邱園，這片活著的樹木收藏館正在幫助保護野生樹木。

Kevin Martin, Head of Trees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
“By using the extinction list it does allow us to really focus on vulnerable species. We can then go and collect those species and try to grow them on in the arboretum to safeguard them with the aim to then reintroduce them. And that’s how we can really make a significant difference in protecting forests for the future.”

凱文·馬丁樹種負責人，皇傢植物園邱園
“通過參考瀕危物種紅色名錄，我們可以專註於保護最脆弱的品種。我們會去采集這些品種，然後嘗試在樹木園中種植並保護它們，從而最終向野外再次引入這些品種。這樣我們就能為保護森林的未來做出富有意義的貢獻。”

And as autumn sets in for these trees, it’s hoped this new list can help focus conservation efforts where it’s most needed and safeguard future forests.

對於這些樹種來說，隨著秋天逐漸到來，人們希望新的名錄能夠把保護工作集中到最需要它們的地方，並保護好未來的森林。