The economic boom that has transformed Ireland is now threatening up to 150 species of animals and plants with extinction.
The Notice Nature campaign, a public awareness campaign launched by Environment and Heritage Minister Dick Roche, said species include the red squirrel, several types of bats, the otter, the barn owl, the salmon, the mountain hare, a slug, insects and various plants and trees.
There are 29 different bird species and 120 flowering plants in "serious decline", according to the country's Heritage Service.
PHOTO: AP
"One of the main threats to our biodiversity is loss of habitats, and up to 150 species of plants and birds are now under threat of extinction," Notice Nature said.
"Furthermore, recently we have seen the impact of invasive alien species, like Japanese Knotweed," it said, adding that over exploitation and climate change have also hurt.
The new campaign aimed at preserving the species on red alert will involve collaboration between the ministry and the farming, tourism and building and construction industries.
"The biological diversity we see today is the result of billions of years of evolution," according to Notice Nature.
"While we all welcome our modern thriving economy, we must acknowledge the pressure that increased transportation, construction, inappropriate agricultural practices, poorly managed afforestation and climate change have put on Ireland's biodiversity.
The campaign says protecting the country's wildlife and biodiversity is vital for the tourism industry as many visitors are attracted by Ireland's scenery, animals and plants.
Economically, tourism is very important to Ireland's economy. Last year, 6.4 million tourists visited and the industry was worth 5.9 billion euros (NT$243 billion). (AFP)
愛爾蘭經濟起飛的轉型過程正威脅到高達一百五十種動植物瀕臨絕種。
愛爾蘭環境遺產部長迪克．羅奇發起的「注意自然」提升公眾意識活動指出，這些物種包括紅松鼠、幾種蝙蝠、水獺、倉鴞、鮭魚、山野兔、一種蛞蝓、昆蟲與多種植物與樹木。
愛爾蘭自然遺產服務部指出，共有二十九種鳥類與一百二十種花卉面臨「嚴重銳減」。
「注意自然」提到︰「其中一項對我國生物多樣性的主要威脅是棲息地的消失，多達一百五十種的植物與鳥類現在面臨絕滅危機。」
活動指出︰「更進一步說，我們最近看到了外來物種侵略的影響，如日本蓼科雜草。」它也提到，過度開發與氣候變遷也會造成傷害。
這項新活動的目標為保護達到紅色警戒的物種，由環境部和農業、觀光業、建築與營造業聯手合作。
「注意自然」提到︰「我們今日所見的生物多樣性是好幾十億年的演化結果。」
「在歡迎現代蓬勃經濟的同時，我們必須體悟到加速交通、建設、不當農務、管理不良的造林與氣候變遷的壓力。愛爾蘭的生物多樣性已承受壓力。」
活動也指出，保護野生生物與生物多樣性對觀光產業極為重要，因為許多遊客都受愛爾蘭風光與動植物吸引。
經濟層面來看，觀光業對愛爾蘭經濟非常重要。去年有六百四十萬名遊客拜訪，觀光業總值約五十九億歐元（新台幣兩千四百三十億元）。
（法新社/翻譯：賴美君）
red alert 紅色警戒
Red alert is a military term refering to the highest form of alert when troops are most ready to take action, since red is a color associated with danger: "We have put out a red alert to the entire battalion, and they'll be ready to move at a moment's notice." In this article, species on red alert refers to those species that are most in danger of being killed off soon.
Another phrase is red hot, which you can use to describe a product that is selling quickly. "I wanted to buy myself a PS3, but they are red hot this time of year and just flying off the shelves. "
「red alert」是一個軍事名詞，意指軍隊準備採取行動時，最高形式的警戒；因為紅色讓人聯想到危險。例如︰「我們已向這一營發布紅色警戒，他們將立即備戰」。本文中提到「species on red alert 」是指這些物種面臨即將絕種的危機。
另一個片語「red hot」是用來描述一推出就熱賣的產品。例如︰「我想買PS3，但它們在這個時節實在搶手，貨上架立即銷售一空。」
OUT LOUD 對話練習
Zach: I just read a report that talked about endangered species.
Bill: Oh yeah? What did it say?
Zach: That lots of animals are now in trouble due to loss of habitat and bio-invasion.
Bill: Hmm, sounds complicated and hard to stop. Bio-invasion especially.
Zach: I'll agree that solving these problems isn't a cakewalk, but we still have to try.
札克︰我剛才讀到一篇談到瀕臨絕種生物的文章。
比爾︰噢，是嗎？上頭寫什麼？
札克︰由於棲息地變少與外來生物入侵，許多動物現在麻煩大了。
比爾︰嗯，聽起來有點複雜，不易制止，尤其是外來生物入侵。
札克︰我同意這些問題並不容易解決，但我們還是要努力。
cakewalk 易如反掌，小意思，不算什麼
If something is a cakewalk, it is unusually easy. "I might not be able to hit homeruns, but hitting a single or double is a cakewalk."
假如某件東西是「cakewalk」，就是易如反掌般容易。例如︰「我或許擊不出全壘打，但擊出一、二壘安打簡直是小意思」。
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