Human Impact on Nature
Discuss roads, tourism, energy and land use – and find a balance.
New roads, wind farms, housing estates and tourism all change the landscape. Learn how to describe these changes, weigh up the pros and cons, and talk about responsible behaviour outdoors.
Key Words
Ten essential words with their German meaning and an example sentence.
| English | German | Example |
|---|---|---|
| land use | Flächennutzung | Land use has changed a lot in the last fifty years. |
| land consumption | Flächenverbrauch | Germany wants to reduce land consumption. |
| urban sprawl | Zersiedelung | Urban sprawl is eating into farmland. |
| infrastructure | Infrastruktur | New infrastructure often cuts through habitats. |
| wind farm | Windpark | A new wind farm is planned on the hill. |
| overtourism | Übertourismus | Some popular spots suffer from overtourism. |
| light pollution | Lichtverschmutzung | Light pollution confuses insects and birds. |
| footprint | Fußabdruck | Every holiday leaves an environmental footprint. |
| to disturb | stören | Please don't disturb nesting birds. |
| trade-off | Abwägung, Zielkonflikt | There's a trade-off between clean energy and the landscape. |
Word Partners
Natural English depends on words that belong together. Learn these as complete phrases.
- to have an impact on
- to build on green land
- to strike a balance
- mass tourism
- to leave no trace
- road building
- the benefits outweigh the costs
- environmental footprint
"Hikers should leave no trace: take your litter home and stay on the path."
Useful Phrases
Sentence patterns you can use straight away.
Weighing pros and cons
- On the one hand…, on the other hand…
- The benefits outweigh the costs.
- It would create jobs, but…
- It's a trade-off between… and…
Responsible behaviour outdoors
- Please stay on the path.
- Take your litter home.
- Keep dogs on a lead during the nesting season.
- Don't feed wild animals.
Talk About It
Answer these questions aloud, write a short paragraph, or discuss them with a partner.
- Is there a building project in your area that people disagree about?
- Are wind farms a good idea close to nature?
- Has tourism changed a place you love?
- How can we enjoy nature without harming it?
Test Yourself
Click a question to see the answer.
1. What is "Zersiedelung" in English?
Urban sprawl.
2. What do we call artificial light that harms wildlife?
Light pollution.
3. What does "to leave no trace" mean?
To leave nature exactly as you found it.
Explore More
Related topics on Talking English.
Talk about human impact on nature.
Learn the words, use them in real sentences and share what you notice with others.
Enjoy nature. Leave no trace.