巧克力40年後將消失,原因竟是氣候變暖?

Experts predict the world could run out of chocolate within 40 years because cacao plants are struggling to survive in warmer climates.

有關專家預測由於全球氣候變暖，可可樹將難以生存，因此巧克力將在40年之內絕跡。

The trees can only grow within approximately 20 degrees north and south of the Equator - and they thrive under specific conditions such as high humidity and abundant rain.

由於可可樹喜生在溫度高、溼度大的環境，因此目前其種植區域僅限距離赤道南北緯約20度的狹窄的雨林。

That means cacao production areas are set to be pushed thousands of feet uphill into mountainous terrain which is carefully preserved for wildlife by 2050.

專家稱，到2050年熱帶雨林將不再適合可可樹生長，可可樹種植區域需向高山區域轉移，而那些區域大多是野生動植物保護區。

Last year experts predicted that the world was heading for a 'chocolate deficit' as shoppers in developing countries snapped up more of the sweet treat.

去年專家還預測道，由於發展中國家對巧克力的需求與日俱增，巧克力市場將逐漸進入供不應求的狀態。

The typical Western consumer eats an average of 286 chocolate bars a year - more if they are from Belgium, the research titled Destruction by Chocolate found.

據調查顯示，來自以比利時爲主的典型西方國家的消費者平均每年會購買286根巧克力棒。

Since the 1990s, more than a billion people from China, Indonesia, India, Brazil and the former Soviet Union have entered the market for ite the increased demand, supply has not kept up and stockpiles of cocoa are said to be falling.

自20世紀90年代以來，上億的來自中國、印度尼西亞、印度、巴西等發展中國家的消費者購買巧克力，導致市場對巧克力的需求不斷增加，而可可豆的儲量卻逐年下降。

Doug Hawkins, from London-based research firm Hardman Agribusiness, said production of cocoa is under strain as farming methods have not changed for hundreds of years.

來自倫敦研究公司哈德曼農業的道格·霍金斯表示，可可產品供應緊張是因爲可可樹種植方法幾百年來一成不變。

Some reports suggest cocoa growers in the world's top producer country, Ivory Coast, have resorted to illegally farming protected forests to meet demand - what Mr Hawkins calls 'destruction by chocolate'.

有關報道顯示，在世界上可可種植最多的國家科特迪瓦（也稱爲 “象牙海岸”），有些種植者爲了滿足市場需求，在森林保護區域裏非法耕種可可作物，道格·霍金斯稱這種現象爲“巧克力帶來的毀滅”。