Advanced Vocabulary for IELTS 7.0+: Environmental Issues and the Natural World (Part 8)

Kasturika Samanta

7 min read

Updated On Sep 23, 2025

Expand your IELTS vocabulary with words related to environmental issues and the natural world. Find high-level words, definitions, and example sentences related to environment in this blog, ideal for Band 7.0+ in the writing, reading & speaking modules.

Environment Vocabulary Related to The Natural World
Advanced Vocabulary for Environmental IELTS Topics
Exercises Based on Advanced Environmental Issues and the Natural World Vocabulary for IELTS 7.0 +
Answer Key for Exercises Based on Advanced Environment Vocabulary for IELTS 7.0 +
Additional Resources for Improving Your Environment Vocabulary for IELTS

Limited-Time Offer : Access a FREE 10-Day IELTS Study Plan!

The IELTS exam often tests your ability to use precise, academic vocabulary when discussing environmental issues, wildlife conservation, and the natural world. Topics such as climate change, species extinction, conservation strategies, habitat destruction, and ecological sustainability frequently appear in reading, listening, speaking, and writing tasks. Using advanced IELTS vocabulary not only boosts your lexical resource score but also helps you sound more natural and knowledgeable.

In this blog, we explore words and phrases drawn from academic contexts, with clear meanings and example sentences.

This table focuses on words related to wildlife, ecosystems, and conservation. These terms are beneficial for IELTS Writing Task 2 essays and Speaking Part 3 discussions.

Word	Meaning	Example Sentence
Feral	existing in a wild state, especially after escape from captivity	Packs of feral dogs roamed the outskirts of the village.
Solitary	preferring to live or exist alone	The solitary tiger patrolled its territory with caution.
Nesting	referring to animals building nests to breed or rest	The birds began nesting in the cliffs during spring.
Resurgent	becoming stronger, more active, or more popular again	The resurgent wolf population is a conservation success story.
Range	the area in which an animal or plant is naturally found	The snow leopard has a range stretching across Central Asia.
Prey	an animal hunted or killed by another for food	The eagle swooped down to catch its prey.
Predation	the act of hunting or feeding on another animal	Predation by lions regulates zebra populations.
Tropics	the region near the equator with hot, humid climate	The tropics are home to the most biodiverse rainforests.
Sheds	loses or discards something naturally	The snake sheds its skin several times a year.
Gestation	the period of carrying offspring before birth	The elephant has the longest gestation period of any land mammal.
Alpha	the dominant individual in a group of animals	The alpha wolf led the hunt with precision.
Adverse	harmful or unfavorable	The plant failed to grow in such adverse conditions.
Eradication	the complete destruction or removal of something	The eradication of malaria remains a global health goal.
Conservation	the protection and preservation of natural environments	Conservation of wetlands helps protect bird migration routes.
Breach	an act of breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement, or barrier	The breach in the dam caused widespread flooding.
Ban	an official prohibition	A ban on plastic bags was introduced last year.
Indigenous	originating naturally in a particular place	Indigenous tribes play a vital role in forest conservation.
Stray	wandering or lost, often without an owner	A stray dog followed us through the alley.
Heat	the quality of being hot; high temperature	The heat in the desert can be unbearable.
Stock	a supply of animals, plants, or materials	The farm maintains a healthy stock of cattle.
Placental	relating to mammals that nourish unborn offspring via a placenta	Humans are placental mammals.
Territory	an area defended by an animal against intruders	The lion marked its territory with scent.
Run	a small, enclosed area where animals are kept	The chickens scratched about in the run.
Cull	selectively reduce the population of a species	Deer culling helps balance forest ecosystems.
Apex	at the top or highest part; apex predator = top of food chain	Sharks are considered apex predators of the ocean.
Insulation	material or qualities that prevent loss of heat	Polar bears rely on thick fur as natural insulation.
Identity	the qualities that make someone/something distinct	Protecting cultural identity is as important as biodiversity.
Status	a social or conservation position	The snow leopard’s endangered status has drawn international concern.

Looking for environment vocabulary to impress your IELTS examiner?

Book a seat for our FREE IELTS webinars!

Advanced Vocabulary for Environmental IELTS Topics

This advanced vocabulary word list for IELTS includes some additional words and phrases that are useful for the reading module of the IELTS exam.

Word	Meaning	Example Sentence
Anthropogenic	caused by humans	Anthropogenic emissions are the leading cause of climate change.
Keystone Species	a species that plays a critical role in ecosystem balance	Bees are a keystone species in pollination networks.
Habitat Fragmentation	breaking habitats into smaller, isolated parts	Roads cause habitat fragmentation in forests.
Biodiversity Hotspot	area rich in species but under threat	The Amazon rainforest is a biodiversity hotspot.
Reforestation	replanting trees in deforested areas	Reforestation campaigns improve air quality.
Carbon Sequestration	capturing and storing atmospheric CO2	Forests are vital for carbon sequestration.
Ecotourism	responsible travel supporting conservation	Ecotourism provides income while protecting nature.
Overexploitation	excessive use of natural resources	Overexploitation of fisheries has caused species decline.
Desertification	the spread of desert-like conditions	Poor farming practices accelerate desertification.
Deforestation	the clearing of forests	Deforestation contributes to biodiversity loss.

Are you looking for expert guidance on vocabulary building for IELTS?

Book an IELTS online class & talk to our experts NOW!

Exercises Based on Advanced Environmental Issues and the Natural World Vocabulary for IELTS 7.0 +

It is essential to understand the context of using a word after learning its meaning to improve your IELTS band score. Here are some environment vocabulary exercises for IELTS to help you improve your word choice and boost your vocabulary.

The Natural World

Use the words from the box below to fill in the gaps in sentences 1 – 26. You will not need to change the form of the words. Use each word once only.

feral	solitary	nesting	resurgent
range	prey	predation	tropics
sheds	gestation	alpha	adverse
eradication	conservation	breach	ban
indigenous	stray	heat	stock
placental	territory	run	cull
apex	insulation	identity	status

The Canadian government’s authorisation of the seal-pup______annually is extremely controversial and brings the wrath of conservationists down on it.
During the annual Alaskan salmon a.______, such is the abundance of spawning fish that the local bear population enjoys a veritable feast. However, overfishing has depleted the b.______of wild salmon considerably.
The disappearance of sea ice has forced polar bears into swimming increasingly long distances in search of suitable______.
The international______imposed on whale hunting is not adhered to by several countries, Including Norway and Japan.
The increasing popularity of so-called eco-tourism is having a(n)______effect on once isolated areas like Galapagos.
If global warming continues apace, diseases now confined to the______, such as malaria, will quite possibly make their way as far north as the United Kingdom.
Although the population of wolves in Spain is stabilising thanks to______efforts, there is still a long way to go before long-term recovery is guaranteed.
The______population of red squirrels in parts of Scotland is a sign that efforts to control the population of greys have been somewhat successful.
Shark attacks along the Australian coastline are usually a case of mistaken______.
The______period of the red deer lasts typically 240 to 262 days.
Male wildebeest are willing if necessary to fight to the death over a female in______.
Unlike its cousin the lion, the leopard is a______beast which will only seek out the company of others of its species during the mating season.
Watching a whale______the surface is a spectacle that is hard to forget.
The lion is an______predator; the only serious threat to it comes from man.
The______male of a band of gorillas will typically have a distinctive area of silver- coloured fur on its back.
______mammals dominate much of the rest of the world in much the same way as marsupials are abundant in Australia.
Over thousands of years, much of New Zealand’s a.______population of birds evolved to become flightless on account of there being no significant threat of b.______on the ground. Unfortunately, when the possum was introduced from Australia, such species had little or no defense and became easy prey for the foreign invader.
The population of grey wolves in Yellowstone is thriving and scientists suggest the species no longer needs its protected______.
The______of the Polynesian rat from the small offshore islands of New Zealand has seen the indigenous bird population stage a remarkable recovery.
Conservation efforts are ongoing on the Ionian island of Zakynthos to safeguard the future of the loggerhead sea turtle. Volunteers patrol the beaches that act as its nesting ground throughout the______season.
The Arctic fox______its winter coat at the onset of spring.
Blubber is a very effective form of______against the freezing cold temperatures seals often encounter in the ocean.
The wolves had a huge______and travelled more than 50 km per day.
The pride males regularly marked their______to warn off rivals.
The city has a problem with______dogs and needs to look at neutering the male population to prevent the problem getting worse.
The______horses that roam the Snowy Mountains of Australia are known as the Brumbies.

Answer Key for Exercises Based on Advanced Environment Vocabulary for IELTS 7.0 +

The Natural World

cull
a. run b. stock
prey
ban
adverse
tropics
conservation
resurgent
identity
gestation
heat
solitary
breach
apex
alpha
Placental
a. indigenous b. predation
status
eradication
nesting
sheds
insulation
range
territory
stray
feral

Explore our Vocabulary for IELTS to boost your IELTS vocabulary!

Additional Resources for Improving Your Environment Vocabulary for IELTS

Here are some additional links to help you learn more environment vocabulary for IELTS:

To conclude, mastering these words will help you sound fluent, accurate, and academic. Therefore, with consistent practice, these terms will give your responses the academic tone IELTS examiners look for, pushing your Lexical Resource score toward Band 7.0+ and beyond.

Useful Links: