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The world's forests perform a critical role soaking up planet-warming carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
全球森林在吸收大气中让地球升温的二氧化碳上起到了关键作用。
But there's only so much they can do, says Antonio Brunori, head of the sustainable forestry authority PEFC, Italy.
但来自意大利的可持续林业局PEFC的局长安东尼表示，森林只能做这么多。
We are therefore in a historic moment for climate changes because the scientific world is on alert
我们现在处于气候变暖的历史性时刻，因为科学界处于警戒状态，
and it says Be careful, the ecosystem of the forests is not able anymore, as it was before,
因为他们说要小心，森林的生态系统不再像之前那么有力量了，
to absorb all this carbon dioxide, it has reached a point of saturation.
他们之前可以吸收所有的二氧化碳，如今却达到了饱和点。
Forests are under increasing stress as temperatures rise. Trees are more vulnerable to pests and diseases for example.
森林随着气温升高也遭受压力，比如森林更不容易受到疾病和害虫的影响。
That's bad for the climate. It's also bad for the timber industry. Forest managers need an early warning system.
这对全球气候是坏消息，对木材业也一样，森林管理者需要可以提前提醒的警告系统。
That's where these instruments come in. They're called TreeTalkers.
这就是这些设备的用处，它们被叫作“树木在说话”。
TreeTalker is a detector, or better a series of detectors, which transforms eco-physiological signals,
“树木在说话”是一种检测设备，或者说是一系列检测设备，它将生理生态信号，
such as growth, absorption of carbon dioxide, liquid flow from roots to leaves, into scientific information.
比如增长，二氧化碳吸收情况，从根茎到叶子的液体流，变成科学信息。
That information could reveal when a tree is under attack from insects or fungi.
该信息可以显示出树木何时遭受昆虫或真菌的袭击。
The TreeTalker sends that information to faraway forest managers, says its inventor Riccardo Valentini,
“树木在说话”将信息传递给遥远的森林管理人，这是创造者里卡多·瓦伦提尼的评论。
head of the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change.
她是欧洲-地中海气候变化中心主任。
The TreeTalker device transmit data via radio and it can transmit data actually very long distance, up to one kilometre,
该设备通过无线电发送数据，传递的距离是很远的，可以达到一公里。
These data, transmitted via radio, are transmitted to the Internet, to Cloud using what is available,
数据通过无线电传输，传入到互联网，传入到云中，使用我们拥有的设备，
if it's in the middle of the forest without WiFi, it can transmit through a sim card.
如果该设备处在一片没有无线网的森林中，那么它将通过SIM卡传输。
The data lets forest managers take action right away to control the threat.
该数据可以让森林管理者马上采取行动控制威胁。
The device also tracks the width of the tree's trunk.
该设备还记录树干的宽度。
So managers can keep track of how much wood they're growing, compared to how much they're cutting down and keep their harvests sustainable.
这样管理者可以知道树木的增长情况，相比于他们砍伐的木材，让丰收保持平衡。
And the data will give scientists a better understanding of exactly
数据还让科学家更好地了解
how climate change is affecting forests and the role they play in a healthy environment.
气候变化是如何影响森林的，以及它们在健康环境中扮演的角色。
From water to carbon sequestration from the atmosphere, from habitats, from wildlife and biodiversity.
从水到大气中的碳封存，从栖息地，野生动物和生物多样化。
So forests are important and forests are made by trees. So we need to study the individuals to understand the forest.
森林非常重要，树木组成了森林，我们需要进行个别研究来了解它。
About 300 TreeTalkers are being tested in Italy, China, Russia and elsewhere.
目前有大约300个设备在意大利、中国、俄罗斯以及其他地方测试。
This year, Valentini expects another 1,700 devices to be tested internationally.
今年瓦伦提尼预计还会有1700个设备在国际上测试。
Steve Baragona VOA news
史蒂夫·巴拉格纳，VOA新闻
