世界节假日博览 第114期:世界防治荒漠化和干旱日

One of the most pressing problems facing our world today is the advance of deserts and the droughts this causes. June 17 is officially the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. It was created by the United Nations to draw attention to the seriousness of farmland and forests lost to deserts. The UN General Assembly drew up the “Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa”. This long-titled initiative hopes to reverse desertification. To do this, agencies must educate poorer nations about the dangers of land degradation. Such education is one way to help reduce poverty and encourage sustainable development.
当今，人类面临的最紧迫问题要数荒漠化和干旱。6月17日为世界防治荒漠化和干旱日。由联合国发起，旨在提高人们对耕地森林“变沙”问题的重视程度。联合国大会还发起“拯救非洲等荒漠化或干旱严重国家”会议。希望这项倡议能够改变荒漠化问题。就土地退化问题，各机构必须对贫困国家人口进行教育。此举有助于减少贫困，开展可持续发展。


UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a speech that “land degradation affects a significant portion of the Earth’s arable lands, directly impacting the well-being of people and economic development of countries”. He added that: “As the population grows, and with it the demand for agriculture production, traditional systems of managing the land are collapsing.” Mr. Ban said the UN must work harder to reduce poverty and protect dry lands. He told the world: “The time has come for the international community to recognize that dry land, where nearly half of the world’s poor live, is not waste land. Rather, they are potential areas for agricultural intensification for both food and energy needs.”
联合国秘书长潘基文在演讲中表示，土地退化影响了大面积可耕土地，直接对人类生存，全球经济发展构成影响。”他补充道：“随着人口增长，农业需求量扩大，传统农业经营模式正在衰退。”称联合国必须加大扶贫力度，改善干旱地区问题。他在演讲中表示：“国际社会应意识到干旱地区不是荒原地区，近一半人口仍居住于此。在食物供给和能源需求上，干旱地区的潜力巨大。