牧羊人在与气候变化作斗争

牧羊人在与气候变化作斗争

At an altitude of more than 14,000 feet, where winter temperatures can fall to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, it is hard to believe anyone, or anything, can survive in the vast ice desert that is Changthang, on the Tibetan Plateau between India and China.

在海拔超过14000英尺的地方，冬季气温可能降到零下40华氏度，很难相信任何人或任何东西能在印度和中国之间的青藏高原上的巨大冰原昌坦生存。

Situated between the Himalayan and Karakorum mountain ranges, it is the highest permanently inhabited plateau in the world, and home to an extremely hardy and rare breed of goat -- the Changra.

它位于喜马拉雅山脉和喀喇昆仑山脉之间，是世界上最高的永久居住的高原，也是一种极其耐寒和稀有的山羊品种昌格拉羊的家园。

The region's high altitudes, freezing temperatures and harsh winds are essential in stimulating the growth of the goats' super-soft undercoat. The fibers can measure a mere 12 microns in width, making them around eight times finer than human hair and up to eight times warmer than sheep wool.

该地区的高海拔、寒冷的气温和凛冽的寒风是刺激山羊超柔软底毛生长的关键因素。这种纤维只有12微米宽，比人的头发细8倍，比羊毛暖8倍。

This luxurious fiber is known as Pashmina, the softest and most expensive type of cashmere wool in the world.

这种奢华的纤维被称为羊绒，是世界上最柔软和最昂贵的一种开士米羊毛。

Rearing these valuable animals in such inhospitable conditions are the Changpa people. For centuries these nomadic shepherds, who are as hardy as their animals, have roamed "the roof of the world," moving their herds of yak, sheep and goats along traditional migratory routes every few months in search of fresh grazing pastures.

昌巴人在如此恶劣的环境下饲养这些珍贵的动物。几个世纪以来，这些像他们的动物一样强壮的游牧牧人，在“世界屋脊”漫游。每隔几个月，他们就会带着他们的牦牛、绵羊和山羊沿着传统的迁徙路线，寻找新鲜的牧场。

But their ancient way of life is now under threat from climate change and the lure of an easier and more comfortable life.

但他们古老的生活方式现在正受到气候变化和更舒适生活的诱惑的威胁。

I have known of the Changpa people for some time, but it was only recently that I learned of their struggles. I visited them in the Ladakh region, on the Indian side of the plateau, to photograph their winter migration in early December.

我认识昌巴人已经有一段时间了，但直到最近才知道他们的挣扎。我在高原印度一侧的拉达克地区拜访了它们，拍摄了它们12月初冬季迁徙的照片。

Changthang rarely gets much snowfall, and when it does, it usually begins in January or February. For the last few years, however, it has been increasingly heavy, starting as early as December, even November.

昌坦很少下雪，即使下雪，通常也从1月或2月开始。然而，在过去的几年里，它已经下得越来越大，早在12月，甚至11月就开始了。

The unexpected snowfall was great for my pictures, but it was a major inconvenience for the herders. The high pass they travel through is untraversable once covered in snow, and food supplements have to be brought in to prevent the animals dying from starvation.

这场意想不到的降雪对我的摄影来说是件好事，但对牧民来说却是个大麻烦。他们所经过的高山口一旦被雪覆盖就无法通过了，为了防止动物饿死，必须带食物来补充。

The nomads and scientists alike are adamant that climate change is the biggest threat to Pashmina production in the region. And despite the snowfall, the winters are in fact getting warmer, which reduces the quality and quantity of the valuable Pashmina wool.

牧民和科学家都坚信气候变化是该地区羊绒生产的最大威胁。尽管有降雪，冬天实际上是在变暖，这降低了宝贵的羊绒的质量和数量。

Warmer temperatures mean that the goats don't grow such thick undercoats, reducing the yield of this soft fur and making it harder to separate from the coarse outer fur.

温暖的气温意味着山羊不会长出这么厚的内层毛，这就减少了柔软皮毛的产量，使它更难与粗糙的外部皮毛分离。

Over a relatively short period of time, dozens of nomad families from the Changthang plateau have migrated away from their village, Kharnak, to the outskirts of Leh, a city 180 kilometers away. There, the herders who have given up their nomadic lives have set up their own neighborhood, called Kharnak Ling.

在相对较短的时间内，几十个来自昌坦高原的游牧家庭从他们的村庄哈纳克迁移到180公里外的列城郊区。在那里，放弃游牧生活的牧民们建立了他们自己的社区，叫做哈纳克岭。

On my recent visit to the region, the chief of Kharnak village, Targais Tashi, expressed his concerns. "These are worrying times we are experiencing," he said. "If weather patterns continue (changing) like they are, then it could have an irreversible impact on Pashmina goat-rearing on the Changthang. There were once more than 90 families in Kharnak and now there are only 16.

我最近访问该地区时，哈纳克村的村长塔尔盖斯·塔希表达了他的关切。“我们正经历着令人担忧的时期，”他说。“如果天气模式继续像现在这样变化，那么它可能会对昌坦地区生产羊绒的山羊的饲养造成不可逆转的影响。哈纳克曾经有90多个家庭，现在只有16个。

"The younger generation would rather work in the city and cannot be persuaded to continue this physically, mentally and emotionally demanding existence."

“年轻一代宁愿在城市工作，无法说服他们继续这种对身体、精神和情感都要求很高的生活。”