中英對照讀新聞》Spain recruits a herd of goats and sheep to tackle the threat of forest fires西班牙招募一群山羊和綿羊來解決森林火災威脅

綿羊和山羊在西班牙巴塞隆納附近的科利塞羅拉自然公園吃草，以降低發生野火的風險。（法新社資料照）

◎林雨萱

With increasing fears about forest fires that devour large areas of green land in several European countries in light of high temperatures and drought, Spain resorted to an old trick to confront this danger by recruiting a herd of goats and sheep.

鑑於高溫和乾旱，數個歐洲國家越來越擔心森林大火會吞噬大面積的綠地，西班牙採取一項古老技巧，招募一群山羊和綿羊來對抗這項危險。

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The move is an old strategy of handing over areas at risk of wildfires to grazing animals, who gnaw and trample on dry vegetation, which in turn can accumulate as fire fuel.

這項措施是一種古老策略，將具有野火風險的區域交給放牧動物，牠們會啃咬和踐踏之後會積聚作為火災燃料的乾燥植被。

Parts of Spain adopted this strategy nearly two decades ago, when the southern region of Andalusia began paying to cross its green plains and valleys with their animals.

西班牙部分地區近20年前採取這項措施，當時安達盧西亞南部地區開始付錢給人們，讓他們帶著動物穿越綠色平原和山谷。

Since then, the regional program has expanded to more than 100,000 animals, saving officials an estimated 75% of the cost of mechanically clearing land.

自那時起，這項地區計畫已經擴展到超過10萬隻動物，估計為官員省下75%的機器清除土地成本。

新聞辭典

devour：動詞，吞食、吞噬。例句：The lion hungrily devours an ox.（那隻獅子很餓地吞食一隻公牛。）

resort to：動詞片語，訴諸於。例句：Tom resorted to drink after losing his beloved.（湯姆失去愛人之後，訴諸於飲酒。）

grazing：名詞，放牧、牧草。例句：There’s a wide range of grazing land around here.（附近有大範圍的牧場。）

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