VOA标准英语2008年-Florida Land Deal Will Boost Everglades Restora

Environmental groups are praising a decision by the U.S. state of Florida to buy a vast tract¹ of farmland to restore the Everglades wetlands. In Miami, VOA's Brian Wagner reports the deal aims to control water pollution and ensure fresh water supplies.
　
A white egret glides² above green native sawgrass in Florida's Everglades (file)

The $1.7 billion plan aims to fill a major hole in long-running efforts to restore the vast watershed³ in southern Florida. State government officials agreed to buy the land from U.S. Sugar Corporation, which will abandon its sugar cane⁴ fields and end operations after six years.

The cane fields have long cut off the natural flow of fresh water, from lakes in central Florida through the Everglades and into the Gulf⁵ of Mexico. Environmental groups say that water is needed to supply the Everglades National Park as well as public water sources.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist led talks for buying the 75,000 hectares.

"I can envision no better gift to the Everglades, the people of Florida and the people of America, than to place in public ownership this missing link that represents the key to true restoration," he said.

The purchase involves nearly a quarter of the land set aside in a special farming area created more than 50 years ago, when engineers began draining parts of the Everglades wetlands.

Since then, U.S. Sugar and other cane growers have been criticized for sending polluted water into remaining wetlands.

Recently, Florida officials had tried to negotiate deals to buy back smaller portions of land from sugar growers.

John Adornato of the National Parks Conservation Association says the announcement of the huge deal is a welcome surprise.

"It is a lot of land, a huge amount of land that can greatly benefit and lead us to a successful Everglades restoration," he said.
　
Donna Glann Smyth walks through The Fakahatchee Strand⁶ on a swamp walk through the Florida Everglades, with a group looking for wild orchids⁷, 16 Feb. 2008

Once restored, the Everglades will be able to trap vast quantities of rain water, reducing concerns about drought that have led to water usage restrictions⁸ in recent years.

Adornato says restoring more land also increases the ability of the Everglades to filter dirty rainfall run-off.

"The entire goal of Everglades restoration is to redirect those harmful discharges and turn them into beneficial flow for the Everglades," he added.

The state of Florida and U.S. Sugar are expected to negotiate final terms for the land deal by November. Environmental groups say they will be watching to ensure that it will benefit the wetlands.

　

 

1 tract   

n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林)

参考例句：

• He owns a large tract of forest.他拥有一大片森林。
• He wrote a tract on this subject.他曾对此写了一篇短文。

2 glides   

n.滑行( glide的名词复数 )；滑音；音渡；过渡音v.滑动( glide的第三人称单数 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔

参考例句：

• The new dance consists of a series of glides. 这种新舞蹈中有一连串的滑步。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The stately swan glides gracefully on the pond. 天鹅在池面上优美地游动。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 watershed   

n.转折点，分水岭，分界线

参考例句：

• Our marriage was at a watershed.我们的婚姻到了一个转折关头。
• It forms the watershed between the two rivers.它成了两条河流的分水岭。

4 cane   

n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的

参考例句：

• This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
• English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。

5 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

6 strand   

vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地）

参考例句：

• She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ears.她把一缕散发夹到了耳后。
• The climbers had been stranded by a storm.登山者被暴风雨困住了。

7 orchids   

n.兰花( orchid的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Wild flowers such as orchids and primroses are becoming rare. 兰花和报春花这类野花越来越稀少了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She breeds orchids in her greenhouse. 她在温室里培育兰花。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制