根据联合国粮农组织的数据，过去20年间，全球森林覆盖面积减少了近1亿公顷，尽管减少的速度低于以往，但在稳步下降。毁坏森林对撒哈拉以南非洲和东南亚的影响尤其严重。
A cut tree falling in Amazonas jungle, Brazil, July 28, 2008. [Photo/IC]
The world has lost nearly 100 million hectares of forests in two decades, marking a steady decline though at a slower pace than before, a UN agency reported Tuesday.
联合国粮农组织周二(9月15日)报告称，全球森林面积在20年间减少了近1亿公顷，这标志着尽管减少的速度低于以往，但森林面积在稳步下降。
The proportion of forest to total land area fell from 31.9 percent in 2000 to 31.2 percent in 2020, now some 4.1 billion hectares, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization.
根据联合国粮农组织的数据，全球森林面积目前约为41亿公顷，占土地总面积的比例已经从2000年的31.9%降至2020年的31.2%。
It marks "a net loss of almost 100 million hectares of the world’s forests," the FAO said.
联合国粮农组织表示，这标志着“全球森林面积净减少了近1亿公顷”。
Logs cut from the Amazon rainforest are laid out near the BR-319 highway in the city of Realidade, Amazonas state, Brazil, Aug 22, 2019. [Photo/Agencies]
Deforestation has hit particularly hard sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia, where it has accelerated in the last decade, but also Latin and Central America, where it has nonetheless slowed down.
森林砍伐对撒哈拉以南非洲和东南亚的影响尤为严重。在过去十年间，这些地区的森林砍伐速度有所加快，但拉丁美洲和中美洲的森林砍伐速度却有所放缓。
Forests are being cut down mainly to make way for crops or farm animals, especially in less developed countries.
森林砍伐主要是为了种植庄稼或饲养家畜，特别是在欠发达国家。
In southeast Asia, forest now covers 47.8 percent of the land compared to 49 percent in 2015. In sub-Saharan Africa, it covers 27.8 percent compared to 28.7 percent five years ago.
在东南亚，森林覆盖率从2015年的49%下降到现在的47.8%。在撒哈拉以南非洲地区，这一比例从五年前的28.7%下降到27.8%。
In Indonesia, it is 50.9 percent, down from 52.5 percent. In Malaysia, it is 58.2 percent, down from 59.2 percent five years ago.
在印度尼西亚，这一比例从52.5%降至50.9%。在马来西亚，这一比例为58.2%，低于五年前的59.2%。
A country strongly focused on agriculture like the Cote d'Ivoire has seen forests reduced to 8.9 percent of the total land area from 10.7 percent in 2015. Kenya, Mali and Rwanda have largely held firm against forest loss.
像科特迪瓦这样高度重视农业的国家，森林占国土面积的比例已经从2015年的10.7%降至8.9%。肯尼亚、马里和卢旺达一直全力反对森林砍伐。
In Latin and Central America, forest covers only 46.7 percent of the total land, compared to 47.4 percent five years ago.
在拉丁美洲和中美洲，森林面积只占土地总面积的46.7%，而五年前这一比例为47.4%。
In Brazil, forests declined to 59.4 percent of the country's territory in 2020 from 60.3 percent in 2015. In Haiti, deforestation has continued apace -- falling to 12.6 percent of the total land area from 13.2 percent in 2015.
在巴西，森林覆盖率从2015年的60.3%下降到2020年的59.4%。在海地，森林砍伐持续加速，森林覆盖率从2015年的13.2%下降到12.6%。
In contrast, in many parts of Asia, Europe and North America forest area has increased or stayed the same in the last five years with policies to restore woodland and allow forests to expand naturally.
相比之下，在亚洲、欧洲和北美洲的许多地区，由于政策鼓励恢复林地，让森林自然扩张，森林覆盖率在过去五年间上升或持平。
Forests have recovered on the mountains in Chengkou county, Chongqing. TAO MING/XINHUA
In China, forests make up 23.3 percent, up from 22.3 percent in 2015. In Japan, they account for 68.4 percent, the same as it was five years ago.
在中国，森林覆盖率从2015年的22.3%上升到23.3%。在日本，这一比例为68.4%，与五年前持平。
In France, forests cover 31.5 percent of the land in 2020, up from 30.7 percent in 2015. In Italy, they make up 32.5 percent of the national territory, up from 31.6 five years ago.
在法国，森林覆盖率从2015年的30.7%上升到2020年的31.5%。在意大利，这一比例从五年前的31.6%上升到32.5%。
In Britain, they make up 13.2 percent, up from 13 percent five years ago.
在英国，这一比例为13.2%，高于五年前的13%。
In Canada, it is unchanged at 38.2 percent, and in the United States, unchanged at 33.9 percent.
在加拿大和美国，这一比例分别保持在38.2%和33.9%。
In Australia the figure rose from 17.3 to 17.4 percent and in New Zealand from 37.4 percent to 37.6 percent over the five years.
在澳大利亚，这一比例在五年内从17.3%上升到17.4%，在新西兰，这一比例从37.4%上升到37.6%。
英文来源：法新社
