The increasing number of small hydropower stations in Shennongjia Nature Reserve in Hubei Province has triggered worries among locals over the ecosystem damage to the best reserved forest zone in Central China.

據新華社報道，湖北省神農架自然保護區的小水電站不斷增多，這讓當地群眾十分擔憂，他們擔心水電站會破壞華中地區保存最良好林區的生態系統。
The increasing number of small hydropower stations in Shennongjia Nature Reserve in Hubei Province has triggered worries among locals over the ecosystem damage to the best reserved forest zone in Central China, Xinhua reported.

水電開發可追溯到20世紀70年代，那時，為更好地保護森林，當地政府將水電做為木材燃料的替代物推廣水電。
The development of hydropower dates back to the 1970s, when the local government promoted hydropower as an alternative to wood as fuel to better preserve the forests.

But a local official called hydropower stations a "double-edged sword" because while fewer trees have been cut down, the stations also cut off river flows.
但一名當地官員稱，水電站是把“雙刃劍”，因為雖然砍伐的樹少了，但水電站截斷了河流。

姚楚成是當地一位農民，面對這些攔水大壩的建設，他表示很擔憂。
Yao Chucheng is a local who is frustrated with the reservoirs.

過去六年間，這位42歲的漁農投資約100萬元在流經自己村子的河流旁建起了漁場。如今，正在修建的2.5萬千瓦水電站將切斷漁場的水源供應。
The 42-year-old fish farmer has invested about 1 million yuan over the past six years in his farm by a river that runs through his village. A 25,000-kilowatt hydropower station under construction will cut off the water supply to his farm.

(China.org.cn August 19, 2011)