英语听力：自然百科 印度岛屿日渐消失

This partially submerged palm tree is a stark(鲜明的) reminder that climate change is bringing real changes to the world's landscape. The vanishing Indian island of Ghoramara is part of Sundarbans, the world's largest delta, which straddles(横跨) India and Bangladesh. During the last 30 years, Ghoramara has been reduced to nearly half of its original size. Ghoramara submergence is due in part to stress and landscape change caused by overpopulation, but most experts agree that the rising sea triggered by global warming is the primary factor. Thousands of residents have fled the island and many more face the same fate. Land and homes are disappearing, and along with it, farmland.

People are losing their land on the island, so the food grain production has gone down; and all of those who have lost their land cannot move to other places, so they are all getting concentrated in the same area; as there is not enough land available on the island. So the land is getting smaller, compared to the number of people living there. So the economic condition is deteriorating.

Other nearby islands have already disappeared.

Some islands are totally submerged like Lohachara and Suparibhanga, and one island, a very big island, which is called Ghoramara Island, that is nearly 40% reduced as (of) today. So this type of island, where human habitation was there, the people are becoming environmental refugees because they have to evacuate their homes.

This 66-year-old farmer is among those who have lost his home, his land, and his livelihood.

When my house was submerged underwater, I had to move to higher ground to other people's land to live. I have been living here for the last 2 years. I play drums in this area. I have to work daily to make a living since I can not plow land anymore. Sometimes I weave fish nets and work as alaborer in the fields.

Experts say the rise in sea level in Sundarbans is higher than the global average.

It is 3.14mm per year here, whereas (the) global average is 1.18mm per year. So the accelerated sea level rise is prevailing definitely, there is no doubt about that.

Another farmer in Ghoramara is fortunate to have some land left for paddy(稻田) cultivation, but he lives in constant fear of losing it.

I fear that if the erosion continues to claim our lands, where would we go? What would we do? I've already lost nearly all my land. I'm barely managing to look after my family from the little land I've left. We're really suffering. It is very difficult. What's going to happen to us? I'm really worried all the time.