绿 色 星 球
植物与人类之间形成了非同寻常的关系
The relationship between plants and humans is extraordinary.
自从地球万物诞生以来
We've been adapting to each other
主持人 大卫·爱登堡爵士
人类与植物就开始了相互适应
for as long as we've been on the planet.
我们生活方方面面几乎都依赖植物
We rely upon plants for almost everything.
我们呼吸的空气 喝的水 吃的食物
The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat,
穿的大部分衣服
much of the clothes we wear,
在世界的某些地方 植物甚至能为人类提供住所
in some parts of the world, the very buildings in which we live.
然而这种关系正在发生变化
But that relationship is now changing.
这种变化的方向 将决定着这颗绿色星球的未来
How it changes next will shape the future of our green planet.
休 戚 与 共
有一些植物能与人类比邻而居
Some plants have the ability to live alongside us...
哪怕我们留给它们的生存环境极为苛刻
..even when we make it extremely difficult for them to do so.
这是位于伦敦市中心的皮卡迪利广场
This is Piccadilly Circus in the heart of London.
很难想象还有比这更不利于植物生长的地方了
It would be difficult to imagine a more hostile place for a plant.
然而 即便在这里 植物也能找到求生之道
And yet, even here, plants will find a way.
无论我们走到哪里 像这样的植物似乎比比皆是
Plants like this may seem to follow us wherever we go.
我们对它们的称呼似乎不太友善
We call them, perhaps a little unkindly,
“杂草”
weeds.
其实 它们是植物界的先锋
In fact, these plants are pioneers,
它们最为擅长适应新的栖息地
the ones that are most able to take advantage of new habitats,
不管那里环境多么恶劣
even very harsh ones.
这堵墙至少有100年的历史了
This wall is at least 100 years old.
它就像一处陡峭的悬崖 毫无土壤的痕迹
It's like a sheer cliff face with no sign of soil,
然而这株常春藤却在这里茁壮成长
and yet this ivy-leaved toadflax thrives here.
它如何做到的？
How?
这种植物会向光生长 花朵朝外
The plant grows towards the light with its flowers facing outwards
以吸引传粉昆虫
to attract pollinators.
但是一旦花朵成功授粉
But once they've succeeded in doing that
种子荚开始发育之后
and the seed pods start to develop,
它的行为就会发生变化
its behaviour changes.
现在 种荚转身背离光线成长
For now, the pods turn and grow away from the light,
寻找周围最黑暗的地方
seeking the darkest place they can find.
也许是一个裂缝 就像这里
A crevice, perhaps, like this one.
这里正是常春藤需要的环境
It's all the toadflax needs.
它将在这里发芽 生成新株
It can now germinate and start to produce a new plant.
其它植物先锋则拥有不同的策略
Other pioneers have a different strategy.
恰恰相反 它们将大批种子散播到遥远的地方
They instead distribute their seeds far and wide in great numbers.
苦苣菜是运用这一策略的高手
Sow thistles are masters of this trick.
每颗种子上的冠毛如同小小的降落伞
Each of its seeds is equipped with a tiny downy parachute,
每一丝微风都是机遇
which will catch the slightest breeze.
它们可以随风飘到很远的地方
And they can travel extraordinary distances.
它们甚至能升上1000米高的半空
They can rise a mile high in the sky
飘到距离母株数百公里之外
and reach places hundreds of miles away from the parent plant.
只需找到一条最微小的缝隙
The seeds only need to find the tiniest chink
种子就能扎根
and they can take hold.
几乎没人注意到这些入侵的植物
We barely notice many of these plant invaders.
但在香港的中心地带
But here in the heart of Hong Kong,
很久之前落在石墙上的榕树种子已成大树
strangler fig seeds that landed on a stone wall generations ago,
数代以来它灵活的枝条与根系延伸的范围颇广
have spread their flexible branching roots far and wide.
它们生长得非常牢固
They can be anchored so firmly
与城市建筑融为了一体
that they become a part of the city's architecture.
这大概是最不同寻常的“杂草”了
This is perhaps the ultimate weed.
但在另一些地方 榕树的非凡特性
But there are places where the extraordinary abilities of fig trees
使其与人类之间形成了截然不同的关系
have created a very different relationship with human beings.
印度东北部的梅加拉亚邦
Meghalaya in north-east India,
在魏然屹立的高原上 陡峭的悬崖令人头晕目眩
a high altitude plateau riven by dizzyingly steep valleys.
这里是卡西族人的家园
It's home to the Khasi people...
他们学会了如何利用印度榕树的非凡特性
..who've learned how to use the remarkable properties of fig trees
在这个条件艰苦的地区生存下来
to help them live in such difficult country.
就像香港榕树一样 这棵树无数的根系牢牢地
As in Hong Kong, the tree's numerous roots anchor it firmly,
固定在陡峭的山腰
here to steep mountainsides.
这些树根一天可以生长2.5厘米
These roots can grow up to 2.5cm a day.
它们非常结实
They are unusually strong,
柔韧 可以弯曲成各种形状
flexible, and can develop into a multitude of shapes.
卡西族人会利用这些印度榕根系搭建步行梯
The Khasi persuade them to provide them with stairs.
雨季的到来 给卡西族人增添了
The monsoon season brings a seemingly insurmountable challenge
难以逾越的挑战
for Khasi communities.
这里是世界上最潮湿的地方之一
This is the wettest place in the world.
一天之内的降雨量可达近30厘米
Nearly 30cm of rain can fall in a day.
河流变成致命的激流
Rivers become lethal torrents,
中断了不同居住地之间的来往
dividing communities from each other.
这时印度榕和卡西族人之间的关系
This is when the relationship between fig trees and the Khasi
显得格外重要
becomes most important.
卡西族特意把印度榕种在河边
They deliberately plant fig trees near the rivers.
随着印度榕不断成长出现许多悬空根系时
When they're mature enough to have developed many hanging roots,
沙宁·斯塔通·孔索开始用它们筑桥
Shining Star Kongthaw begins working with them.
“刚刚长出的根系最适合着手建造”
“它们的数量很充足 材质也更加柔韧”
他通过竹筒引导根系生长的方向
He guides the roots through bamboo tubes
一直延伸至对面的河岸
that are pointed towards the opposite river bank.
这些根系在生长过程中聚合在一起
These strands will combine as they grow, sharing nutrients
分享营养和资源 比单独的根系更加强韧
and resources and becoming stronger than a lone strand could ever be.
“捆绑在一起的根系”
“如同卡西族人之间的情感纽带”
“不同的根系连在一起”
沙宁·斯塔通·孔索 卡西族造桥人
“好比卡西族人互相帮助”
随着岁月的流逝 生长中的根系成为了一座座具有生命的桥梁
As the years pass, the growing roots become a living bridge.
印度榕根系不断长大 变得越来越强韧和稳固
As they grow, they become ever stronger and more stable.
“根系所形成的桥梁 成为了所有卡西族人的生命线”
这种不同寻常的关系使这里的人们
This unusual relationship has allowed the people here to thrive
在原本困难重重的环境中安居乐业
in an otherwise challenging landscape.
还有一些植物与人类形成了更深的合作关系
But there are plants that have found a deeper partnership with us,
从此改变了全球各地的景观
and in doing so, have changed landscapes across the globe.
距今一万多年前
It began over 10,000 years ago,
我们发现了一些特别适合食用的植物
with plants that we found especially good to eat.
起初 这种关系本身引发了一系列难题
At first, this relationship created challenges of its own.
许多原始的禾草类植物
Many of the ancestral grasses,
比如这些来自以色列的野燕麦
like these wild oats from Israel,
它们有一种诀窍 能确保种子
have a trick to ensure that their seeds are planted
在理想的地方生长
in the perfect place.
每颗种子的顶部带有两根称之为“芒”的长毛
Each seed head, at the top, carries two long bristles called awns,
当种子掉落到地上时
and when a seed drops to the ground,
这两根芒就会发挥神奇的作用
these awns do something truly extraordinary...
它们在行走
..they walk.
芒在白天干燥的时候会弯曲
The awns twist as they dry out during the day,
然后当湿度增大时...
and then when they get wet...
又会恢复原状
..they untwist.
细小的茸毛紧紧抓住地面
Tiny hairs grip on to the ground,
保持向前移动
keeping the individual moving forward.
种子通过这种方式 沿着地面前进
In this way, the seeds work their way along the ground
最终找到一块可供藏身的岩石
until eventually they find a rock to hide under
或者可以钻入的裂缝
or a crack to drill in to.
这种进化特征对植物来说很有意义
This adaptation is useful for the plant,
但对人类来说是个难题
but not for us.
当种子落地走远之后 就很难收集它们了
It's hard to collect seeds when they drop off and walk away.
所以我们的祖先选择培育的植物种子不会掉落
So our ancestors selected plants whose seeds don't drop off,
也没有“双腿”
don't have legs
不会把自己埋在够不到的地方
and don't bury themselves out of reach.
他们还挑选出那些能发育出
They also selected those individuals which put their energy
较大种子的个体
into developing much larger seeds.
这种密切关系推广至世界各地
Close relationships like this have developed all over the world,
出现了我们现在种植的农作物
producing the plants that are now our crops.
从植物的角度来看 这可能看起来很糟糕
This may seem a poor deal from the point of view of plants,
但并非如此
but not so.
虽然我们吃掉了它们的种子
We eat their seeds,
但作为回报 我们呵护并培育它们
but in return, we cherish and cultivate them,
现在它们得以广泛存在且数量多
and now they are widespread and far more abundant
比它们在野外的祖先更加多姿多彩
than their wild ancestors.
你可以称之为这是一笔人类和植物之间的交易
You might call this a bargain between ourselves and plants,
随着时代变迁 它的非凡力量可见一斑
and over the years, it's proved extraordinarily powerful.
起初 这种交易的规模非常有限
In the beginning, the bargain operated on a small scale.
人们亲手种植、照料和收获 耕地面积很小
Plant, tend and harvest by hand in small patches.
随着时间的推移 这些植物的产量越来越多
Over time, these plants produced more food,
越来越有效率
increasingly efficiently...
这种合作关系向专一化发展
..and the partnerships became more exclusive.
我们针对选中的少数物种投入越来越高
We started doing more and more for a small number of chosen species.
为选中的少数物种消灭竞争对手
These few persuaded us to eliminate their competitors,
治愈它们的疾病
cure their diseases,
毒死它们的天敌
poison their enemies,
并供应充足的水源
and keep them well-watered,
哪怕其它植物面临着干旱
even when other species faced drought.
现在越来越少的农作物物种
Fewer and fewer plant species,
像大豆、小麦和水稻
like soy, wheat and rice,
占据了越来越多的土地
now occupy more and more land.
于是 现在放眼望去到处是
And so now whole landscapes are dominated
单一的植物物种
by a single species of plant.
这就是单一作物栽培
A monoculture.
在美国加利福尼亚州的中央谷地
This is the Central Valley of California,
有一座全球规模最大的果园
the biggest orchard in the world.
40万公顷的土地上只生长着一种果树
A million acres of just one type of tree,
扁桃树
almonds.
每朵扁桃花 如果能由来自不同的
Each flower, if it's fertilised by pollen
扁桃树的花粉授粉
from a different almond tree,
就会生长一颗扁桃仁
will produce an almond nut.
扁桃花通过演化从形状和气味上引来昆虫
The flowers, patterns and scent have evolved to attract insects
诱骗它们为其传粉
and bribe them to do that job for them.
花粉无需传播很远
The pollen doesn't have to move far,
只需要到达相邻近的扁桃树就行了
it just needs to reach a neighbouring tree.
每棵扁桃树上大约有2万朵花
There are about 20,000 flowers on each tree...
树木总数多达1.4亿棵
..and 140 million trees.
数不胜数的扁桃花 同时发出召唤
That is billions of flowers all calling out at once.
但在这里 盛开的花朵也是福祸相依
But here, the beauty of the blossom is wasted.
为了腾出空间种植扁桃树
To make way for these almond trees,
这片土地被清理得干干净净
the land was, in effect, wiped clean.
无数野生动植物不见踪影
Countless wild species of plants and animals were removed,
包括至关重要的传粉动物
including, critically, pollinators.
所以现在扁桃花急需帮助而且规模非同一般
So now the flowers need help, and lots of it.
400亿只蜜蜂...
40 billion honeybees...
被从美国各地用卡车运至果园
..trucked in from all over the United States.
果园的扁桃花只能开放几周
The orchard is only in bloom for a few weeks,
蜜蜂必须立即开始工作才能得到扁桃仁
so the almonds need the bees to get to work immediately.
每只蜜蜂每天可以造访数千朵花
Each bee can visit thousands of blossoms a day.
虽然它们会把收集到的大部分花粉带回巢穴
And while they take most of the pollen they collect back
但它们每到一处也会掉落一些花粉
to the hive, they also drop some pollen at each stop.
所以 幸运的是
And, so, with luck,
花朵最终都完成授粉了
the flowers are all eventually fertilised.
日复一日 这个过程不断重复
Day after day, the process is repeated.
一朵又一朵的扁桃花
Flower after flower.
一棵又一棵的扁桃树
Tree after tree.
等到花瓣飘落时
By the time the petals fall,
2.5万亿朵扁桃花已成功授粉
2.5 trillion flowers have been successfully pollinated
现在将产出2.5万亿颗扁桃仁
and will now grow in to 2.5 trillion almonds.
这种集约化 流水线式的农业
This type of intensive, streamlined agriculture
取得了惊人的产量
produces amazingly high yields.
但是 单一作物栽培是脆弱的
But monocultures are fragile.
虽然它在条件保持稳定的情况下可以有效运作
While they can function effectively when conditions remain stable,
但仅仅一个小小的变化就可能酿成灾难
it only takes a small change to create catastrophe.
扭叶松
Lodgepole pine,
是一种非常有价值的木材树种 广泛栽种在加拿大西部
a very valuable timber tree grown extensively in western Canada.
无边无际的土地上
Millions of acres of the same species,
种植着树龄相同高度相近的同一树种
all the same age and the same size.
几个世纪以来 这片扭叶松林一直与它们的天敌
For centuries, lodgepole forests have lived in a natural balance
保持着生态平衡
with their enemies,
例如这只
including this one,
山松甲虫
the mountain pine beetle.
夏季 雌性甲虫开始寻找合适的扭叶松
In summer, female beetles start hunting for a suitable nursery
在其中产卵
in which to lay their eggs.
成年的扭叶松树皮较厚
The ideal site is a mature lodgepole pine
厚到足以喂养雌性甲虫的后代
with bark thick enough to feed a female's brood
到了冬天 还能保护幼虫免受严寒的侵袭
and, critically, to protect them from the bitter cold
是理想的产卵地
of the coming winter.
一旦钻入树皮内部 它就会朝着树干上方钻洞
Once under the bark, she tunnels upwards...
沿途产下虫卵
..laying her eggs as she goes.
一只雌性甲虫在繁殖期里可以产大约100颗卵
A single female beetle can lay 100 eggs in a season.
当幼虫孵化时
When the larvae hatch,
它们啃食树皮内部 逐渐长大
they grow by feeding on the inside of the bark.
在这一过程中 扭叶松根部与针叶之间的通道遭到破坏
As they do, they damage the channels that transport water and nutrients
阻碍了水分和营养物质的运输
between the roots and needles.
几个世纪以来 北方冬季的严寒
For centuries, the freezing northern winters
能够冻死大部分的幼虫
killed the majority of larvae,
因此扭叶松和这种天敌保持着生态平衡
so tree and beetle remained in balance.
但是现在 由于气候变化 不够寒冷的冬季
But now, with the climate changing, the winters aren't cold enough
难以抵制甲虫的数量
to control the beetle numbers.
这棵扭叶松针头变红了 这意味着它正在死亡
Needles turning red are a sure sign that the trees are dying.
这片单一品种栽培的土地满是易受侵害的同种树木
The beetle plague spreads like wildfire across a landscape
因此虫灾像野火一样地蔓延开来
covered by a monoculture of similarly vulnerable trees.
自从40年前虫灾第一次大规模爆发以来
Since the first mass outbreak 40 years ago,
北美地区已有数万亿棵树木死于
trillions of trees in North America have been killed
山松甲虫的啃食
by the mountain pine beetle.
植物多样性的丧失使任何栖息地都
Loss of plant diversity makes any habitat more vulnerable
更容易受到环境变化的影响
to changing conditions.
现在 全球气候快速变化
Now, with climate changing so fast,
然而就在我们最需要它们的时刻 植物多样性却在急转直下
we are losing plant diversity just when we need it the most.
五分之二的植物现在就面临灭绝的危险
Two out of five plants are now facing extinction.
当然 任何物种灭绝本身都是一场悲剧
Of course, the loss of any one species is in itself a tragedy,
但更重要的是 这会破坏整个生态系统的稳定性
but such a loss erodes the stability of a whole ecosystem,
我们每个人都不能对此掉以轻心
and that should be of great concern for all of us.
我们需要一项保险措施 防止植物走向灭绝
We need an insurance policy, a hedge against extinction.
这里是邱园的千年种子库
This is Kew's Millennium Seed Bank.
一包包的种子从世界各地运到这里
Packets of seeds arrive here from all over the world.
这些来自一种与丝兰属关系较近的植物
These are from a relative of the yucca plant,
仅生长在墨西哥中部的火山山坡
which grows in central Mexico on the slopes of volcanoes,
其它地方都没有
and nowhere else.
大多数种子都来自生存受威胁的植物
Most of the seeds are from plants that are threatened.
有些植物在种子送达这里后就已经灭绝了
Some indeed, have gone extinct since their seeds arrived here.
但至少在这里 这些种子是安全的
But here, at least, those seeds are safe.
它们被送到这里后 会被加工处理
When they arrive, they're processed
并封装在密封罐中
and sealed in to airtight jars.
然后种子被带到地下 储存在类似这样的库房中
Seeds are then brought underground to be stored in a vault,
温度会保持在零下20摄氏度
like this one, at -20C.
自种子库成立以来
Since the bank was founded,
这里已经储存了来自4万个不同物种
two billion seeds from 40,000 different species
的20亿颗种子
have been brought and stored here.
种子里包含着新植物萌发所需的一切
Because a seed contains everything it needs to start a new plant,
所以每一颗种子都寄托着一份小小的希望
each and every one of them represents a little grain of hope...
希望有一天 这些珍稀植物的种子
..hope that one day we will make it possible for the seeds
可以在我们的帮助下再次在野外绽放生机
of these rarities to grow in the wild once again.
当某个物种数量下降甚至灭绝的时候
The seed bank certainly gives us options when a species becomes rare
种子库无疑提供了一条出路
or even extinct.
但在世界各地 人们仍在尝试各种方法
But around the world, people are trying ways to keep
保持天然植物种群的健康 坚守它们原本的
natural plant populations healthy where they should be,
野外家园
in the wild.
夏威夷
Hawaii.
这里90%的植物物种
90% of the plant species here
在世界其他任何地方都找不到
are found nowhere else in the world.
而一种名为绢木的入侵植物造成了巨大威胁
Many are threatened by a plant invader called Miconia.
在20世纪70年代它作为观赏植物被引入毛伊岛
It was brought to the island of Maui in the '70s as an ornamental plant.
在原产地墨西哥
In its native Mexico,
绢木的生长受到各类捕食者竞争者和疾病的制约
it grows in balance with a rich variety of predators,
相对均衡
competitors and diseases.
但在夏威夷 它高度胜过了多数本土植物
It grows taller than most native Hawaiian vegetation,
叶片下方的植物难以生存
and little can grow beneath it.
在毛伊岛 绢木的生长不受任何因素制约
On the island of Maui, with nothing to keep it in check,
逐渐独霸野外 肆虐成灾
it creates a stifling monoculture.
在这里 绢木看起来
Miconia, it would appear,
如鱼得水
is doing very well for itself.
但是今天 它受到了攻击
But today it's under attack.
在地面 一支专门的团队致力于控制绢木的数量
On level ground, a single dedicated team can keep Miconia in check.
但遗憾的是 在人们无法步行到达的地方
But unfortunately, this plant can spread to places impossible
这种植物仍在蔓延
for people to reach on foot.
仅仅一株绢木一年就能产生大约1000万颗种子
Just one plant can produce around ten million seeds a year,
足以覆盖整片地区
enough to cover this entire landscape.
事关重大 团队想出了
With so much at stake, the team have come up
一个非凡的计划
with an extraordinary plan.
直升机在这里降落非常危险
It's too dangerous to land here,
但他们无需冒险
but they don't need to.
一名射击高超的神枪手可以用
A marksman with great skill can shoot the Miconia
装满除草剂的彩弹射杀绢木
with paint balls full of herbicide.
彩弹的最佳目标是绢木的茎
A perfect shot is one that hits the stem,
从而确保除草剂扩散到整棵植物
so ensuring that the herbicide spreads throughout the plant.
这种方法很有针对性
The method is so precise
只需小心地操控直升机准确进行瞄准
that with careful flying and accurate aim,
就能杀死入侵植物而不会伤害其它野生植物
they can kill the intruders without damaging any wild plants.
消灭外来的入侵植物并不是帮助本土植物的
Destroying alien invaders is not the only way to help
唯一方法
the native plants here.
这里是怀卡茂宜保护区 是夏威夷仅存的
This is Waikamoi Preserve, the last surviving fragment
一小片高海拔雨林
of a high-altitude Hawaiian rainforest,
并拥有世界上最稀有的植物之一
and home to one of the world's rarest plants.
刺毛樱莲
Holokea.
野外只剩下57株完全成熟的个体
There are only 57 fully-grown individuals left in the wild.
它们进化出了奇特的花朵
Their peculiar flowers evolved to suit the beak
以适应一种夏威夷独有鸟类的鸟喙
of a bird found only in Hawaii,
镰嘴管舌鸟
the 'i'iwi.
这种鸟现在已经非常稀少了
The bird is now so rare itself that, today,
所以如今这对动植物搭档很难相遇
these partners seldom, if ever, meet.
因此刺毛樱莲实现授粉的机会也微乎其微
So the chances of holokea getting pollinated are very slim.
但一个特殊的新伙伴或许能够拯救它
But a strange new partnership might just save it.
失去一棵植物就好比驾驶飞机的同时取出其中一颗螺丝
I look at losing a plant as flying in a plane and taking a screw out
是的 飞机依然能够起飞 你甚至可以
and, yeah, the plane will fly and you might be able to take a couple
汉克·奥本海默 濒危植物保护员
再取出几颗螺丝继续飞
of screws out and keep flying,
但最终这架飞机会坠毁的
but eventually you're going to crash.
汉克知道最后57株刺毛樱莲中每一株的位置
Hank knows where to find every one of the last 57 plants,
而且他每年都会回来充当它们的授粉者
and he returns every year to act as their pollinator.
我们必须伸出援手 充当授粉媒介的角色
We have to step in and play that role as pollinator or matchmaker.
汉克从雄花中采集花粉
Hank collects the pollen from the male flower
刷到另一株植物的雌花上
and dusts it onto a female flower of a different plant.
他不但努力维系着这个物种的生存
He's currently their life support,
还试图让这种植物在没有人工协助下茁壮成长
but his goal is for holokea to thrive without him.
所以 在他离开之前 还会播放镰嘴管舌鸟的叫声
So, before he leaves, he plays the call of the 'i'iwi bird.
汉克希望声音能引来仅存的镰嘴管舌鸟
Hank hopes the sound will attract the living birds,
如果它们来了 就能与仅存的刺毛樱莲恢复联系
and if they come, that they will reconnect with the last holokea
重新成为合作伙伴
and rekindle their vital relationship.
我相信所有的物种都很重要
I believe all species are important
我们有责任采取行动
and I believe we have a duty to act.
我们不仅需要在野外采取行动
We need to act, not only in the wild places,
就连我们居住的地方
but even in those where we live
耕种的土地 也不能掉以轻心
and where we farm.
像世界上许多地方一样
Like much of the world,
肯尼亚每年有成千上万的本土树木遭到砍伐
Kenya is losing thousands of native trees annually.
这些树木事关当地人的衣食住行
Ones that local people rely on for so much,
尤其是重要的燃料来源
especially fuel.
但是这里的人们想出了一个巧妙的办法
But here, people have come up with an ingenious way to reverse
尽量恢复他们已经损失的一些树木
some of that loss around them.
在内罗毕郊区的一家工厂里
At a factory in the outskirts of Nairobi,
工人们在收集和分类废弃的木炭粉
workers collect and sort waste charcoal dust.
本地树木的种子经过精挑细选与木炭粉制成小球
Seeds of carefully selected native trees are mixed with the dust.
这种碳涂层将保护种子免受饥饿动物的伤害
This carbon coat will protect the seeds from hungry animals
能够坚持到雨季来临
until the rains arrive.
这些是种子球
These are seed balls.
在基布韦济村
In the village of Kibwezi,
金合欢树逐渐变得稀少
acacia trees are becoming scarce,
因为以往几代人都会砍伐它们 用来烧制木炭
cut down by previous generations to make charcoal.
而这所学校的学生们以游戏形式参与到了森林的重建中
But the students at this school make forest restoration child's play.
溶解的木炭粉中含有营养物质
The nutrients in the dissolving char dust
有助于每颗种子茁壮成长
will give each little seed a good start.
哪怕这些种子中只有一小部分长成大树
If only a handful of these seeds grow into a tree,
这样的努力也是值得的
the effort has been well worth it.
每一棵成熟的金合欢树每年都可以结出上千万颗种子
Every mature acacia tree can itself produce thousands of seeds a year.
仅在肯尼亚 人们就撒下了1300万颗种子球
13 million seed balls have been distributed in Kenya alone...
至于散播种子球的方式...
..and the methods by which they're dispersed...
至少可以说
..are ever more inventive,
是越来越有创意了
to say the least.
这种技术多次运用在全球各地
This technique is being repeated around the globe.
这里是种子球作坊
Seed-ball-making workshop.
人们挑选本土树木的种子
People are choosing seeds of local native plants,
帮助它们落地发芽
giving them a little initial help
使一些野生植物重新回到他们的身边
and bringing some wild plants back into the world around them.
但是 我们能否在从事单一作物栽培的土地上
But is it possible, even in our most extreme monocultures,
略微增添一些野生植物
to invite a bit of wildness in
恢复些许大自然的活力呢？
and, with it, a bit of resilience?
我的果园里种植了两种不同的牧草
I have two different kinds of forage growing in my orchard.
在我身后 有大片的芥菜
The yellow that you see behind me is a variety of different mustards.
克里斯蒂娜·根佩勒 扁桃树农民
绽放出了黄色的花朵
And then after the bloom,
芥菜花期过后 苜蓿很快也会开花
we're going to see some clover blossom.
混合种植作物意味着
This mix of plants means the bees can feed
在短暂的扁桃花花期前后蜜蜂都可以得到食物
before and after the brief almond bloom.
摄入的营养更均衡、更健康
And they also get a more balanced, healthier diet.
与此期间 它们将为各种昆虫和蜜蜂提供栖息地
In the meantime, it's going to provide habitat for all sorts
没准还有一些兔子
of insects and the bees, and probably some rabbits.
混合种植有助于建立一个更好更稳定的生态系统
It's a step towards establishing a better, more stable system.
关键在于达到平衡状态
It's about finding balance.
这就是我们在这里的目标
That's what we're trying to do here.
达到一个生态平衡
Find a balance.
人类能否在全球范围内促使野生植物和栽培作物之间
Can humanity globally find a new balance between wild plants
达成一种新的平衡呢？
and those we have domesticated?
农业发展占用了地球上大约一半的可利用土地
Around half the usable land on Earth is taken up by agriculture.
我们真的需要这么多土地吗？
Do we really need that much?
或许并非如此
Maybe not.
有一点值得注意 全球约有80%的耕地
It's a remarkable fact, but around 80% of all cultivated land
是用来饲养供我们食用的牲畜
is used for raising livestock for us to eat.
饲养动物或许是生产食物的一种可持续方式
Raising animals can be a sustainable way to create food,
但在许多地方 要让植物生产等量的蛋白质
but in many places, plants can produce the same amount
培育时所需的土地却比饲养动物更少
of protein on a fraction of the land that animals need.
如果全球范围内素食消耗和肉食消耗的比重对调
What could it mean for wild plants if the global balance
这对野生植物意味着什么呢？
between plant-eating and meat-eating shifted?
听起来可能很矛盾 但实际上我们食用的植物越多
It may sound odd, but the more plants we eat,
留给野生植物的空间就越广阔
the more space there will be for wild plants.
值得注意的是 即使是高度退化的土地
Remarkably, it's possible to restock even highly degraded land
也有可能因野生植物而复苏
with wild plants.
在巴西 养牛业的发展导致大部分森林遭到砍伐
In Brazil, the needs of cattle ranching drive most deforestation.
大约30年前 当时的一位牧场主
30 years ago, the owners of one former cattle ranch
想把拥有的牧场恢复为曾经覆盖整片区域的
wanted to restore their land to the Atlantic rainforest
大西洋雨林
that once covered it.
他们不知道能否实现这个愿望...
They had no idea if it could be done...
面前的这片土地一片荒芜 伤痕累累
..the land was so bare and eroded.
但他们决心试试看
But they were determined to try.
首先 他们清除了外来物种水牛草
First, they cleared the introduced African cattle grasses,
这种入侵植物比大多数的本地植物都要顽强
invasive plants that outcompete most of the native plants.
在附近残存的大西洋雨林中
The grasses were replaced by seedlings grown from seeds
收集的种子用来培育幼苗并取代水牛草
gathered in nearby remnants of Atlantic rainforest.
现在这片牧场被称为泰拉研究所
The Earth Institute, or Instituto Terra,
即地球研究所
as the ranch is known now,
取得初步成果后 研究所进一步扩大了恢复范围
was encouraged by early success and expanded its scope and ambition.
五年后 树木再次覆盖了这片土地
In five years, trees covered the land again,
而在十年后
and within ten,
这里发生了显著的变化
it was clear something remarkable was happening.
当雨水落下时 它不再顺着地表流走
When rain falls, it now no longer simply runs off the land,
让土地依然干旱
leaving it parched.
而是附着在植物上
Instead, it clings to the plants,
到每处根、茎和叶上...
to every root, stem and leaf...
然后慢慢地渗入森林的地表
..and then slowly filters to the forest floor.
就这样 曾经干涸的溪流
..and, so, previously dry streams burst into life
几十年来第一次迸发出活力
for the first time in decades.
这家研究所从未引入过
The Institute never introduced animals or plants
除了树木以外的动植物
other than the trees.
但动物们反而自己回来了
The animals came back on their own.
率先出现的是小动物
Small ones came first.
然后 就在最近
And then, very recently,
安置在森林中的遥感摄像机拍到的图像
camera traps left in the forest captured images
超出了所有人的预期
beyond the hopes of everyone involved.
一只鬃狼
A maned wolf,
它原本因森林砍伐被迫离开原始栖息地
an animal that is being driven from its native habitat by deforestation,
如今被它最喜欢的植物
drawn to its favourite plant,
狼果树吸引了回来
the wolf fruit tree.
不仅如此...
Not only that...
一只美洲狮
..a puma...
还有它的幼崽！
..with cubs!
这些珍贵的顶级捕食者携带幼崽出现
The arrival of these precious top predators and their young
说明了我们为野生植物腾出空间后会有怎样的变化
shows what can happen when we make space for wild plants.
几个世纪以来 我们夺走了
We have, for centuries,
野生植物茁壮成长所需的空间和时间
robbed wild plants of the space and time they need to thrive.
这不仅对它们没有好处
That has certainly not been to their benefit.
最终也同样会损害我们自己的利益
Nor, ultimately, is it to ours.
历史上 我们与植物的关系会不断变化
Our relationship with plants has changed throughout history,
如今理应再次改变
and now it must change again.
无论是我们培养的或用来食用的植物
Whether it's what we eat and cultivate
还是单纯供人欣赏的植物
or whether it's what we like,
我们现在必须与它们携手并进 让世界变得更有绿意
we must now work with plants and make the world a little greener,
更具野性
a little wilder.
这样一来 我们的未来将更健康
If we do this, our future will be healthier
更安全
and safer
而且根据我的经验 我们会更快乐
and, in my experience, at any rate, happier.
植物毕竟是
Plants are, after all,
人类最古老的盟友 我们可以一起
our most ancient allies, and, together,
使这个星球变得越发绿意盎然
we can make this an even greener planet.
绿 色 星 球 幕 后 花 絮
在《休戚与共》一集中
Throughout the Human episode,
《绿色星球》摄制组尝试拍摄
the Green Planet crew sought
植物置身人类世界时的生长状态
to capture the lives of plants confronted with the human world.
他们也听取了不少人讲述
But they also heard the stories of people deeply connected
人们与周围的植物紧密相连的故事...
to the plants around them...
其中有些人致力于拯救夏威夷本土濒危植物
..such as those at the front line of the battle to save Hawaii's native
战斗在对抗入侵物种的前线
endangered plants from invasive species.
如果我们无法战胜绢木
If we don't get a handle on Miconia,
夏威夷就可能失去自身独一无二的魅力
we could lose everything that makes Hawaii special and unique.
但在《绿色星球》团队实地拍摄之前
But before the Green Planet team could start work,
他们必须严格进行准备工作
they had to undertake some rigorous preparation.
我们要去的地方...
We're going into somewhere that has very...
莉斯·奥克汉姆 制片人
是一个非常敏感的生态系统
It's a very sensitive ecosystem.
当地人正在抵御入侵物种
They're trying to protect it from invasives.
在一个入侵物种肆虐的地方进行拍摄
Filming in a place so ravaged by invasive species
意味着他们必须百分之百地确定
meant they had to be 100% sure that they were not spreading
自己不会带入任何非本地物种
any non-native stowaways themselves.
他们必须对每件物品进行擦洗和消毒
They had to scrub and disinfect every item of equipment.
清洁一新后 团队首先专注于拍摄
With kit clean, the team first focus on filming
稀有的刺毛樱莲...
the rare holokea plant...
他们只能步行前去拍摄
..accessible only on foot.
在夏威夷 这样的原始地区已经不多了
There are a few pristine areas like this left in Hawaii,
只有40%的土地仍存有原生植被
only 40% of the land still has native vegetation,
其它大部分地区都被绢木等入侵物种所占据
most of it wiped out by invasive species like Miconia.
接下来 摄制组将拍摄当地团队向绢木宣战
Next on the list was to film the team waging war on Miconia,
绢木被当地人称为“紫色瘟疫”
known locally as the purple plague.
作为团队的一员 阿贾
For crew member Aja,
不但在与入侵物种的斗争中亲力亲为
the work is not just a physical battle
内心更是受到了
against this invasive species,
不小的震撼
it's deeply personal.
我去过原始地区
I've been to the pristine areas,
阿贾·阿库纳 外勤队队长
所以我知道置身其中是怎样的一幅场景
so I know what it looks like and feels like,
亲身体验大自然
you know, to be in the presence
是怎样的非凡感受
of all that mana and spirituality.
它们不仅仅是植物
Those aren't just plants.
更代表着祖先的灵魂
Those are ancestors' spirits, you know?
消灭入侵植物是一项无休止的工作
Controlling these invasive plants is a relentless job,
阿贾这样做 不仅仅是为了夏威夷本土的生态系统
and Aja is not just doing this for native Hawaiian ecosystems,
也是为了纪念曾经守护这片
but also to protect her ancestral relationship
脆弱环境的先人
to this fragile landscape.
我很享受这个过程 砍倒它们
So, going through this, it feels good to hack 'em
或者连根拔起
and pull them out and be like,
“太棒了 接招吧！”你懂的
"Yeah, OK, take that!" You know?
这就是我们发起的反击
We can sort of fight back.
阿贾对保护本土森林的热情是有目共睹的
Aja's fierce passion to protect these native forests is evident,
但是“紫色瘟疫”已经蔓延到
but the purple plague has spread to places
阿贾步行无法到达的地方
Aja could never reach on foot.
搭乘直升机是抵达战场前沿的
Taking to the sky is the only way to reach the front line
唯一途径
of this battleground.
燃料只够直升机在空中停留两个小时
With only enough fuel to stay airborne for two hours,
允许摄制组拍摄这场空战的时间非常有限
the window for capturing this aerial battle is uncomfortably small.
我们有一天的时间乘坐直升机行动
We have one day of doing the heli operations.
计划可能会被天气打乱
The weather could completely mess us up
如果直升机之间形成局部气流干扰
if we get a system that comes in,
就会变得很棘手
heli to heli is always dangerous and difficult.
莉斯不是唯一忐忑不安的人
This flight is not just tense for Liz,
负责射击植物的布鲁克·曼肯
for plant sniper Brooke Mahnken,
将短程飞行 视为自己阻止物种入侵的
these short flights represent his only opportunity
唯一途径
to hold back the invasion.
如果不加以控制 绢木会造成可怕的破坏
Miconia left unchecked can be terribly damaging.
作为种子植物
The potential for one seeding plant,
布鲁克·曼肯 除草剂弹道射击技术专家
一旦它在种群之外扎根
if it were to get far away from the population,
成熟之后继续散播种子
reach maturity and put seeds out,
新的入侵就会形成
then it's starting a whole new infestation.
一旦它占据了整个区域
And once it occupies that entire area,
其它物种将难以存活
then it's completely wiped it out.
直升机真的很重要 因此你可以在
The helicopter is really important because you can fly in extreme
极端的地形上空飞行 比如数百米高的悬崖
terrain with these, like, 1,000ft cliffs
除此之外没有其它途径
and find Miconia that...
能够接近这些植物
There would be no other way to get to these plants.
曼肯的团队已经习惯了空中带来的挑战
The Miconia team are used to the aerial challenges
但对于制片人莉斯来说
of this battle, but for producer Liz,
直升机飞行员此前与她的交谈
the pre-fight talk from the helicopter pilot
也让她切身感受到他们
brings home the lengths that this team go to
为了完成任务所承担的风险
in order to complete their work.
你要坐在机舱后面
So, you're just going to be in the back here
后座风力很大
and it's a hurricane in the back seat,
如同一场飓风 所以一切必须固定
literally a hurricane, so nothing loose,
你可不想把胳膊、腿或手伸出来
you don't want to put an arm ahead, a leg or a hand out
因为可能会被大风卷出机舱
cos it's going to blow behind you
特别是不要伸头
and you don't want to stick your head out
如果头盔脱落
because if the headset comes off,
被卷进螺旋桨 你就和这里永别了
then it's into the tail rotor and then it's bye-bye, Maui.
飞行前的检查结束了
Pre-flight checks completed,
很快 直升机就要升空
the clock is now ticking to get into the air.
这次行动对每个人都很重要
This matters so much to everyone here.
我的确很有压力 争取圆满成功
I definitely feel the pressure to get this right.
首先要做的是拍摄朝植物射击的特写镜头
The first thing to do is shoot close-up shots at plants
因为这是难度最大的事情
Because that's the hardest thing
我们去寻找一些植物
Let's look for some plants
为了让这些植物进入射程之内
To get within shooting distance of the plants,
直升机飞行员必须小心翼翼地
the helicopter pilot must carefully manoeuvre in
飞入当地最深的峡谷之一
to one of the area's deepest canyons.
看到这块显眼的岩石了吗？是的
See the light-coloured rock? Yep.
顺着它看过去
Follow that up, to the right.
好了 看到了
You see it?
目标近在眼前
The target is in sight.
好的 就在那里
Oh, yeah. There it is.
好的 我...我准备好了
OK, I'm live and ready.
大风从瀑布上空吹来
With high winds gusting up from the waterfall,
一架直升机想要就位已经很困难了
getting into position is tricky enough in one helicopter,
更不用说两架了
let alone two.
为了让布鲁克有机会打中目标
To give Brooke the best chance of hitting the Miconia,
飞行员必须让他距离植物20米之内
the pilot must get him within 20 metres of the plant
最好让目标与视线平齐
and ideally at eye-level.
任何失误都有可能适得其反
Any missed shot threatens to become friendly fire,
伤害到他们要保护的物种
harming the species he aims to protect.
好了吗？是的 开始吧
Ready? Yeah. Here we go.
布鲁克必须击中植物的茎干
Brooke must strike the stem of the plant
才有可能彻底消灭它
to have the best chance of completely killing it.
哇！天哪！好样的！
Whoa! My God, nice fire!
很好 效果非常好 谢谢大家
Yeah, worked really, really well. Thanks, guys.
这对双方来说 都是一次成功的任务
This has been a successful mission for both teams.
飞行员的飞行技术和布鲁克的犀利射击
The pilot's skills and Brooke's sharp shooting
又拯救了一片森林
has saved another patch of forest,
莉斯也很欣慰 她得到了
and Liz is relieved that she has the shots
讲述这个故事的精彩画面
she needs to do the story justice.
都结束了 结束了
It's over. It's over.
太精彩了 拍了很多
It just looked amazing.
是的 看起来很不错
Yeah, it looks good.
很不错
It looks good.
然而对于布鲁克和阿贾来说 他们工作远没有结束
For Brooke and Aja, however, their work doesn't stop.
为了消灭夏威夷入侵的物种
Just holding back the tide of invasive species in Hawaii
他们奉献了自己的一生
is more than a lifetime's work.
但阿贾相信她的战斗是值得的
But Aja believes that her fight is worthwhile.
我们所做的一切都是为了下一代
Everything we do is for the next generation,
就像我们的祖先和长辈那样
just like our ancestors and kupuna.
他们的付出不是为了自己 而是为了下一代
It wasn't for them, it was for the next generation.
我希望孩子们能有机会体验到夏威夷
And just to have my kids go into areas, like, where they can see
原始的自然环境
there are still natives,
而不是让他们看到大片的入侵物种
where we don't have to go through all this invasive vegetation.
要知道 这不仅仅是我的责任
You know, it's not just my responsibility,
也是所有人的责任
it's everyone's responsibility.
地球关爱我们 我们同样应该回馈地球
You know, the Earth takes care of us, so we have to do the same,
不能对此熟视无睹
we can't just let it go by.
我们也要关爱地球
We've got to take care, too.
英国开放大学制作了一张海报
The Open University had produced a poster
探索植物对我们星球的重要作用
that explores the vital role that plants have for our planet.
要订购免费副本 请致电...
To order your free copy, call...
或者去...
or go to...
并点击
..and follow the links
开放大学的链接
to the Open University.