Fields of Gold | 绿色黄金，饥贫救星

by Li Chen

『曼札纳计划』的目标是利用红树林为厄利垂亚带来食物及财富。

When American biologist Gordon Sato was 14 years old, his family was forced to become self-sufficient in the harsh conditions at the Manzanar relocation camp for Japanese-Americans in 1942. _(1)_ He has focused on the African nation of Eritrea, one of the poorest countries in the world with no sustainable economy. The aim of the Manzanar Project is to eliminate hunger and poverty while relieving global warming. _(2)_ In turn, they gain the necessary skills to be self-sufficient in producing food and wealth for themselves.

The answer lies in a plant native to the coastal deserts of Eritrea—the mangrove tree. _(3)_ The mangrove has an extensive root system that slows the flow of water, thus protecting the coastal areas from erosion. _(4)_ However, the main benefits for the Manzanar Project are in the mangrove leaves. Since they are rich in protein, mangrove leaves make for excellent fodder for the area's livestock. When mixed with dried mangrove seeds and a small portion of fish meal, the leaves provide enough nutrition for the animals to produce offspring as well as milk. _(5)_

Since the mid-1980s, Sato and the Manzanar Project have planted over 800,000 mangrove trees and improved the standard of living in Eritrea. Even so, the Project strives to train more people to use low-tech solutions to end hunger and poverty.

(A) The Project does this by training the locals in Eritrea to use technology to harness its natural resources.

(B) In addition, the roots provide a habitat for young fish and other sea life to flourish.

(C) Because of this trying experience, Sato has been devoted to alleviating hunger with his Manzanar Project for more than 20 years.

(D) Just like the domino effect, the mangroves feed the animals, the animals feed the people, and the people survive to give back to the community.

(E) What makes this tree special is the fact that it grows in seawater.

1942 年，美国生物学家戈登‧佐藤正值 14 岁，他们全家被迫在为日裔美籍人士设置的曼札纳安置营艰困的环境下，过着自给自足的生活。由于历经这段苦难的日子，佐藤用他的『曼札纳计划』致力于减少饥饿问题已超过 20 年之久。这项计划的重点放在非洲国家厄利垂亚，它是全世界最贫穷的国家之一，缺少足以自立的经济。『曼札纳计划』的目标在于减轻全球暖化的同时，也消弭饥饿和贫穷。达到目标的方式是教导厄利垂亚人利用科技来运用其自然资源。接着，人民获得必要的技能，便能为自己带来食物和财富，过着自给自足的生活。

　　要达成目标的关键在于红树林，它是一种原生于厄利垂亚沿岸沙漠的植物。红树林特别之处在于它生长在海水中。大片蔓延的树根会减缓海流速度，进而保护沿岸土壤免于遭受侵蚀。此外，红树林的树根也提供幼鱼和其他海中生物一个繁殖的栖息地。然而，为『曼札纳计划』带来主要益处的其实是红树林的树叶。由于红树林的树叶富含蛋白质，成为该地家畜绝佳的饲料来源。将树叶混入干燥的红树林种子和少许的鱼粉，便可提供动物足够的营养以繁衍后代和制造乳汁。就好比骨牌效应，红树林供给动物养分，动物提供人类食物，而人类生存下来回馈社会。

　　从 1980 年代中期开始，佐藤带着『曼札纳计划』已种植超过 80 万棵红树林树木，改善了厄利垂亚的生活水平。即使如此，这项计划还是努力训练更多人民，不须用高科技的办法就能终结饥饿和贫穷。

答案：  1. (C)2. (A)3. (E)4. (B)5. (D)

For Your Information

曼札纳（西班牙语的意思是『苹果园』）是最广为人知的 10 个安置营之一，超过 11 万名日裔美国人在第二次世界大战期间被监禁于此。它位在洛杉矶东北方约 370 公里之处，现已成立曼札纳国家历史遗址。