IELTS Speaking Practice: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation Topics

Yes, I have several houseplants in my apartment. I enjoy taking care of them because they add a touch of nature to my living space and help purify the air. My favourite is a small ficus tree that I’ve had for about three years now.

Useful language:a touch of naturepurify the air

Yes, a couple of years ago I went hiking in a national park in the mountains. We spent two days walking through pine forests and saw wild goats on the cliffs. It was so peaceful that I didn’t check my phone once, which is rare for me.

Useful language:went hikingso peaceful that

I’d say the octopus. It’s incredibly intelligent — octopuses can solve puzzles and even change colour to blend in with their surroundings. I find it fascinating that such a clever animal is so different from us.

Useful language:incredibly intelligentblend in with

Not as often as I’d like. During the week I just walk in a local park, but I try to get out of the city to the countryside or the coast about once a month. It really helps me recharge.

Useful language:get out of the cityrecharge

Yes, unfortunately several. Some large birds of prey and a few species of sea turtle are at risk, mainly because of habitat loss and pollution. There are conservation programmes, but they need much more support.

Useful language:at riskhabitat lossconservation programmes

Absolutely. Children who spend time outdoors and learn how ecosystems work are more likely to care about protecting them as adults. Besides, being in nature is good for their health and concentration.

Useful language:more likely tocare about protecting

Yes, I’ve joined a few beach clean-ups organised by a local group. It was shocking how much plastic we collected in just two hours, but it was also rewarding to see the difference afterwards.

Useful language:beach clean-upsrewarding

I have mixed feelings. Good zoos do valuable work in breeding endangered species and educating the public. But I don’t like zoos where large animals are kept in small enclosures just for entertainment. I think the focus should be on conservation, not profit.

Useful language:mixed feelingsbreeding endangered speciesenclosures

I’d like to talk about a fascinating local ecosystem: the mangrove forests along our coast.

These unique forests are located where the land meets the sea, in shallow, muddy areas that flood every time the tide comes in. The mangroves themselves are specially adapted trees that can tolerate saltwater, and their tangled roots grow above the water, almost like stilts. You can visit them along a wooden walkway that the local council built a few years ago.

As for the wildlife, the roots provide shelter for an amazing variety of species. Young fish use them as a nursery because larger predators can’t get between the roots. There are crabs everywhere on the mud, and many birds — herons, kingfishers and, in winter, migrating birds that stop there to feed. If you’re lucky, you can also see small turtles.

What I find particularly interesting about this ecosystem is how useful it is, not just beautiful. The mangroves protect the coastline from erosion and storm surges, which matters a lot for the villages nearby. They also store a large amount of carbon in their soil, so they help fight climate change. And because so many fish start their lives there, local fishermen depend on them too.

Unfortunately, parts of the mangroves have been cleared in the past for building and shrimp farms, so they’re now protected. For me, they’re a perfect example of how nature can provide both environmental and economic benefits, as long as we look after it.

Useful language:where the land meets the seaspecially adapteda nurseryerosion and storm surgesstore carbonas long as we look after it

I believe climate change is having a significant impact on biodiversity. Rising temperatures are altering habitats faster than many species can adapt. For example, coral reefs are experiencing bleaching events due to warmer ocean temperatures, which affects the entire ecosystem that depends on them. Additionally, changing rainfall patterns are causing some areas to become drier, leading to habitat loss for many species, while others are forced to migrate towards cooler regions.

Useful language:altering habitatsbleaching eventshabitat lossmigrate

Governments have the most powerful tools. They can designate protected areas, enforce laws against illegal logging and poaching, and require environmental impact assessments before major construction projects. They can also use funding and tax incentives to reward farmers and businesses that protect habitats. Because ecosystems cross borders, international agreements are important too.

Useful language:designate protected areaspoachingenvironmental impact assessmentscross borders

There are lots of small but meaningful steps. People can plant native flowers to support bees, avoid pesticides in their gardens, and reduce their use of single-use plastics. Choosing sustainably sourced food — like certified fish or seasonal local produce — also makes a difference. And individuals can volunteer for or donate to conservation groups.

Useful language:native flowerssustainably sourcedseasonal local producevolunteer for

I think they can, although it requires careful planning. Ecotourism is a good example: protecting forests or coral reefs can bring in more income over time than destroying them. Green industries such as renewable energy also create jobs. The problem is that short-term profits often win over long-term benefits, so governments need to make sustainable options financially attractive.

Useful language:coexistecotourismshort-term profitsfinancially attractive

The consequences could be serious. Ecosystems would become less stable, so events like droughts or pest outbreaks would cause more damage. We’d lose services we depend on, such as pollination of crops and clean water. There’s also an economic and medical cost, since many medicines come from plants and animals we haven’t fully studied yet.

Useful language:less stablepest outbreakspollination of cropsfully studied

Technology is already making a big difference. Drones and satellites can monitor deforestation in real time, and camera traps with AI can identify and count animals automatically. Environmental DNA — tiny traces of DNA in water or soil — lets scientists detect species without even seeing them. These tools make conservation faster and cheaper, although they can’t replace protecting habitats on the ground.

Useful language:monitor deforestationcamera trapsenvironmental DNAon the ground

Yes, definitely. Companies whose activities damage habitats — through mining, logging or pollution — should pay to restore them. Governments could require them to measure and publicly report their impact on nature, just as many already report carbon emissions. Fines for damage and incentives for restoration would encourage businesses to treat nature as something valuable rather than free.

Useful language:held responsiblerestorepublicly reporttreat nature as