旱灾给我们上了怎样一课?

当地政府正在寻找新水源，来帮助千千万万像李彦博这样的家庭。上周国土资源部正式宣布，截止至5月底，将在包括嵩明县在内的10个县区挖掘1100口新水井。但对此李彦博并不十分乐观。
Local governments are trying to help families like Li’s by hunting for new water resources. The Ministry of Land and Resources announced last week that 1,100 new wells would be dug in 10 counties, including Li’s, by the end of May. But Li is not very optimistic.

李彦博说：“我邻居家就有一口井。过去井水是满的，你不用绳子就能打到水，但现在那口井已经枯了。所以即使在其他地方打一口新井，也可能是相同的结果。”
“My neighbor has a well. In the past, it was full and you could get water without using a rope, but now it is empty,” said Li. “So even if you dig a new well in some other place, the result will likely be the same.”
　　
李彦博认为，合理防旱的方法不仅局限如此，像植树就是个可行的办法。
In Li’s opinion, there are more sustainable ways to prevent a drought, such as planting more trees.
　　
树木凭借他们庞大的根系来储藏水源。但在过去的18年里，云南的森林覆盖率已从63%减少到33%。
Trees conserve water with their large roots. But in Yunnan, forest coverage has decreased from 63 percent to 33 percent over the last 18 years.
　　
李彦博说：“小时候，父亲会带我上山并告诉我他年轻时是如何砍柴引火的。如今，由于没有树木来保障地下水源供给，水库周围变得寸草不生。”
“When I was a child, my father would take me up the mountain and tell me how he used to cut down trees and use them as firewood when he was young,” said Li. “Now the land around the reservoir is barren – there are no trees protecting the underground water supply.”
　　
他表示，旱情真实地验证了节约用水的重要性。
Li says the drought has served as a reality check on the importance of water conservation.
　　
“从中我也学到了，如果我们合理用水，两桶水就足够一家四口一天的用水量。我们可以从多种途径对其循环利用。每滴水都弥足珍贵。我希望人们能意识到这点。”
“It has taught me that, if we use water efficiently, two buckets a day should be enough for four family members. We can recycle the water for multiple uses,” said Li. “Every drop of water is precious. I hope people realize this.”