VOA标准英语2009-Carbon Trading Seen as Key to Borneo's Prese

Scientists and environmentalists have stepped up efforts to save what is left of Borneo's rain forests and wilderness¹ areas. New research suggests carbon trading could offer the next solution.

Experts calls on Indonesia, Malaysia protect the natural habitat
　
Animal activists² dressed as orangutans demonstrate against palm oil plantation³ development in Jakarta, Indonesia (File)

A new study in Conservation Letters says that selling carbon credits linked to Indonesian rain forests on Borneo could prove just as profitable as clearing the land for palm oil plantations⁴.

Plantation companies in Indonesia and Malaysia, which share most of Borneo island, produce 87 percent of the world's palm oil. They have come under fire for causing to deforestation, which threatens populations of rare animals such as orangutans, elephants, rhinoceros⁵ and clouded leopards⁶.

Oscar Venter, a conservationist biologist and the study's lead author, says the time has come for governments to re-write policy to incorporate the latest scientific findings and help protect the natural habitat on the world's third largest island.

"I think it could go a long way to protect these forests. I mean whether it's going to protect all forests so no more forests are going to be cleared is doubtful," he said. "But from our results, from our carbon prices I think certainly in some areas the reduced emissions⁷ from the deforestation and degradation⁸ carbon scheme will be able to protect forests in Borneo."

UN plans to compensate⁹ countries for protecting their forests

The United Nations has endorsed¹⁰ a plan that would compensate countries for protecting their forests, which soak up vast amounts of the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere each year. Many environmental activists hope the plan will be included in a new global agreement later this year on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, which many scientists think contribute to global warming.

The compensation could be done through direct financial assistance or credits that can be sold on an international carbon market to companies that exceed their allotted¹¹ carbon limits.

According to Venter's study, the forests would be worth more than palm oil if carbon credits were priced between $10 and $33 a ton. Figures vary but according to the United Nations, carbon credits could be worth up to $20 billion a year to Indonesia.

This would add substantially to government coffers and help preserve the remaining wilderness areas of Borneo, crucial to the survival of many of the world's most endangered species.

1 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 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。

4 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

5 rhinoceros   

n.犀牛

参考例句：

• The rhinoceros has one horn on its nose.犀牛鼻子上有一个角。
• The body of the rhinoceros likes a cattle and the head likes a triangle.犀牛的形体像牛，头呈三角形。

6 leopards   

n.豹( leopard的名词复数 )；本性难移

参考例句：

• Lions, tigers and leopards are all cats. 狮、虎和豹都是猫科动物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• For example, airlines never ship leopards and canaries on the same flight. 例如，飞机上从来不会同时运送豹和金丝雀。 来自英语晨读30分（初三）

7 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

8 degradation   

n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变

参考例句：

• There are serious problems of land degradation in some arid zones.在一些干旱地带存在严重的土地退化问题。
• Gambling is always coupled with degradation.赌博总是与堕落相联系。

9 compensate   

vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消

参考例句：

• She used her good looks to compensate her lack of intelligence. 她利用她漂亮的外表来弥补智力的不足。
• Nothing can compensate for the loss of one's health. 一个人失去了键康是不可弥补的。

10 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 allotted   

分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I completed the test within the time allotted . 我在限定的时间内完成了试验。
• Each passenger slept on the berth allotted to him. 每个旅客都睡在分配给他的铺位上。