So, healthy forests like those I've experienced in Madagascar
所以像我在马达加斯加见到过的健康森林
play a vital role in regulating the planet's climate.
在调解地球气候中发挥重要的作用
But the pristine natural beauty of this island isn't all that it seems.
但是这个岛原始的自然美并不是表面看起来那样
This is one of the most famous places in Madagascar.
这是马达加斯加最著名的地方
These giants are the baobab trees, the island's national symbol.
这些巨大的猴面包树是这个岛的国家象征
They're actually a symbol of something else as well.
它们实际上也象征着其它的事物
The only reason you can see them
你还能看到它的唯一原因
is that all the other trees have been cut down.
是因为其它的树都已被砍伐
The baobabs remain because to the local people,they're sacred.
猴面包树还在,是因为当地人 他们都是圣人
Right across Madagascar, the forest is under attack.
就在马达加斯加对面那里的树林正在被破坏
Wherever you go, you catch the smell of wood smoke,
不管你走到哪里都能闻到木材燃烧的气味
the smell of farmers clearing the jungle
农民在清理丛林
because the local practice, known as tavi, uses fire to open up new land.
因为当地常常用这种办法来开拓新土地
These days, there's only about a fifth of the island's original jungle left.
如今大概世界上只剩下五分之一的原始丛林
Of course, deforestation is not a problem that's confined to Madagascar.
当然,森林流失并不是 马达加斯加一个国家面临的问题
In Bolivia, this area of rainforest covering more than 20,000 square miles
在玻利维亚,这片热带雨林 曾经有两万平方英里
was turned into farmland and towns in just 20 years.
20年内变成了田地和城镇