Interesting Green: 我国绿地里有宝藏 Wǒ guó lǜ dì lǐ yǒu bǎo zàng

我报，星期二2 0 1 0 年1 1 月2 日, 《热点新闻》(Hot News)
MYPAPER, TUESDAY, 2ND NOVEMBER 2010, HOT NEWS, PAGE 1 (CHINESE SECTION)
From http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ebook/web_php/fvbrowserjs.php?urljs=http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ecreator/sphopf/myb021110cnd_opf_files/myb021110cnd.js&ver=Gen
By 杨丹旭 yáng dān xù

PHOTO: 绿树成荫的武吉知马保护区中植物种类繁多，吸引了很多动物前来栖息，也是森林徒步的好去处。（梁麒麟摄）
lǜ shù chéng yīn de wǔ jí zhī mǎ Bǎo hù qū zhōng zhí wù zhǒng lèi fán duō, xī yǐn le hěn duō dòng wù qián lái qī xī , yě shì sēn lín tú bù de hǎo qù chù. (liáng qí lín shè)
Greenery Bukit Timah reserve has a wide range of plant species in the protected areas. It not only attracts a lot of animals to come and inhabit, but the forest is also a good hiking place. (Beam Kirin photo)
我报，星期二2 0 1 0 年1 1 月2 日, 《热点新闻》(Hot News)
MYPAPER, TUESDAY, 2ND NOVEMBER 2010, HOT NEWS, PAGE 1 (CHINESE SECTION)

武吉知马自然保护区虽然只有区区163 ha（公顷），不过里面却拥有840多种不同的植物，其中的树种比整个北美洲还要多。

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, although only a mere 163 ha (hectares), has over 840 different plant species, which is more than the entire of North America.

过去 20 多年来，享有“花园城市”美誉的岛国，绿地面积越来越大。国家公园局（NParks）数据显示，1986年，我国绿地覆盖率只有35.7%，到了2007年，绿地覆盖率则增加到46.5%；其中公园和自然保护区的面积占我国土地面积的10%。

Over the past 20 years, the island has enjoyed the "garden city" reputation. The green area is growing. National Parks Board (NParks) data show that in 1986, Singapore's green coverage area is only 35.7%. In 2007, the green coverage space increased to 46.5% with the parks and nature reserves accounting for 10% of land area in Singapore.

NParks自然保护处处长黄墩华接受《我报》访问时说：“新加坡‘花园城市’概念的孕育可追溯到上世纪60年代，当时还是总理的李光耀资政发起植树运动。自那时起，新加坡在绿化方面不断努力，才有了今天近一半土地被绿色覆盖的成绩。”

NParks Conservation Director Tun Hua Huang interviewed by "my paper" said: When the concept of "Singapore's 'garden city' was born, can be traced back to the 60s in the last century. Then the Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's tree-planting campaign was launched. Since then with continuous efforts in the greening of Singapore, resulted with half the island today being cover by green. "

PHOTO: Jungle Greenery Waterfalls Fog Background Image
http://images2.layoutsparks.com/1/185328/jungle-greenery-waterfalls-fog.jpg
http://www.layoutsparks.com/1/185328/jungle-greenery-waterfalls-fog.html

莱佛士生物多样性研究博物馆副署长、新加坡国立大学生物系副教授陈长华受访时也指出，我国独立以来，城市化进程迅速，但生物却更加多样化，绿地不断增多，也常常发现新的植物和动物，这是非常难得的。

Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, Deputy Director, Department of Biology, National University of Singapore Associate Professor Chen Changhua when interviewed also pointed out that since our independence, there is rapid urbanization, but there are more living species. Increasing green space often comes with the discovery of new plants and animals. This is a very rare phenomenon.

为了保护和改善本地生物多样化，我国也在去年率先推出“新加坡城市生物多样化指数”（Singapore Index onCities’ Biodiversity）。

In order to protect and improve the local biological diversity, Singapore is also the first to launch last year, "Singapore Index onCities' Biodiversity".

上星期在日本名古屋（Nagoya）召开的“第10届生物多样化公约大会”上，这个指数也正式被193个《生物多样化公约》缔约成员采纳。

Last week, in Nagoya, Japan, at the "10th Conference of the Convention on Biological Diversity", this index was officially adopted by 193 "Convention on Biological Diversity" members.

PHOTO: Nice river and greenery
http://images.travelpod.com/users/mookie/2.1244260800.nice-river-and-greenery.jpg
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-photo/mookie/2/1244260800/nice-river-and-greenery.jpg/tpod.html

陈长华说，这个指数能协助城市有规律地为生物多样化打分，衡量城市在这个领域的表现；不过他也提醒，城市应该为居民的利益而改善生物多样化，而不是为了取得更高分才这么做。
Chen Chang hua, said the index will help a city to monitor its biodiversity rating and to measure the performance of cities in this area; but he also warns that the city biodiversity index should be improved for the benefit of the residents, rather than to achieve a higher point for the sake of just doing it.

我国的生物多样化现状如何？近年来本地出现了哪些新的植物和动物？保护和改善生物多样化面临哪些挑战？国人可以如何参与？《热点新闻》带你了解。详文刊B4-B5

What is the status of biodiversity? What new local plants and animals emerged in recent years? What are the challenges trying to protect and improve the biodiversity? How can people participate? "Hot News" will let you know.

Translated by:

Using nciku (www.nciku.com), an online dictionary with English and Chinese language (with Pinyin), and Googles Translate.