IELTS Essay: Declining Plants and Animals

Vocabulary Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

decline: decrease, diminish, dwindle, wane, recede
pressing issue facing many countries worldwide: urgent concern, critical problem, grave matter
this is a result of human activity: caused by human actions, stemming from human behavior
countered: opposed, combated, resisted, challenged
adopting sustainable policy initiatives: embracing eco-friendly strategies, implementing green policy measures
rampant deforestation: widespread tree loss, uncontrolled forest destruction, extensive logging
agricultural expansion: farming growth, agricultural sprawl, cultivation expansion
logging: timber harvesting, tree cutting, lumber extraction
infrastructure development: construction of infrastructure, urban development, built environment expansion
Amazon rainforest: Amazonian jungle, the Amazon basin, the tropical rainforest of the Amazon
pristine habitats: untouched environments, unspoiled ecosystems, immaculate habitats
cleared: removed, eradicated, obliterated, wiped out
cattle ranching: beef farming, livestock rearing, raising cattle
depriving countless species: robbing numerous species, depriving a multitude of organisms, stripping away biodiversity
natural homes: native habitats, original dwellings, inherent abodes
Relatedly: in connection, correspondingly, in a related vein
including industrial discharge: encompassing factory effluents, incorporating industrial emissions, comprising discharge from industries
agricultural runoff: farming effluents, agricultural discharge, crop production drainage
poses a significant threat: presents a major danger, constitutes a considerable risk, signifies a substantial peril
global release of toxic chemicals into rivers and oceans leads to: worldwide discharge of harmful substances into waterways and seas results in, global dumping of poisonous compounds in rivers and oceans causes
marine life: aquatic organisms, sea creatures, oceanic fauna
disrupts delicate aquatic ecosystems: disturbs fragile water ecosystems, interrupts vulnerable aquatic habitats, undermines intricate marine environments
additional: extra, supplementary, further
deserves attention: merits consideration, warrants focus, calls for awareness
illegal wildlife trade: illicit animal trafficking, unlawful wildlife commerce, black market exchange of fauna
practice: activity, custom, habit, tradition
driven by high demand for exotic: propelled by a strong desire for rare, pushed by a great demand for unusual
traditional medicine: folk medicine, alternative healing practices, ancient remedies
pushing many species towards endangerment: pushing numerous species toward the brink, driving multiple species to endangerment, propelling various species closer to extinction
potential extinction: possible eradication, likely annihilation, plausible extinction
keys: crucial elements, vital components, essential factors
reversing natural degradation: halting ecological decline, undoing environmental deterioration, reversing natural deterioration
conservation: preservation, protection, safeguarding
restoration efforts: rehabilitation initiatives, rejuvenation endeavors, revitalization projects
Biodiversity conservation programs: programs for preserving biodiversity, initiatives to protect species diversity, efforts to conserve biological variety
focus on preserving and restoring specific habitats: concentrate on safeguarding and reviving particular environments, emphasize the preservation and restoration of specific ecosystems
reforestation initiatives: tree-planting programs, afforestation efforts, reestablishment campaigns
aim: goal, objective, purpose, target
replant native tree species: reintroduce indigenous tree species, reforest with local tree varieties, replant endemic trees
deforested areas: cleared regions, logged zones, treeless landscapes
crucial: essential, vital, critical, indispensable
Marine protected areas: ocean sanctuaries, marine reserves, protected marine zones
established: set up, created, founded, instituted
safeguard vulnerable: protect at-risk, defend susceptible, secure endangered
promote sustainable fishing practices: encourage eco-friendly fishing methods, advocate for responsible fishing techniques, support sustainable harvesting in fisheries
Captive breeding: controlled reproduction, breeding in captivity, artificial breeding
reintroduction programs: release programs, reintroduction initiatives, species reestablishment efforts
revive endangered species: restore at-risk species, rejuvenate threatened organisms, bring back endangered populations
Evidence: proof, substantiation, confirmation
approach: method, strategy, approach, technique
initiatives: projects, endeavors, campaigns
breed: propagate, reproduce, generate, produce offspring
release critically endangered species: set free highly endangered species, reintroduce critically endangered organisms, liberate critically endangered populations
black rhinoceros: African rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis
Complementary sustainable practices in agriculture: supplementary eco-friendly practices in farming, sustainable agricultural approaches that work together, additional environmentally conscious methods in farming
forestry: forest management, woodland cultivation, timber production
promoted: encouraged, advocated, endorsed
critical issue: pressing matter, urgent concern, crucial problem
demands immediate attention and action: requires prompt focus and action, necessitates instant attention and intervention, calls for immediate concern and response
humanity’s collective responsibility to protect and restore: the shared duty of humankind to safeguard and rehabilitate, the collective obligation of humanity to preserve and revive, theshared responsibility of humans to protect and restore