Nature English: Conservation and Protection
Talk about protecting nature – its successes and its conflicts.
Beavers, white storks and other species have returned to many parts of Germany thanks to conservation. Learn how to talk about nature reserves, rewilding and the debates around them.
Key Words
Ten essential words with their German meaning and an example sentence.
| English | German | Example |
|---|---|---|
| conservation | Naturschutz | She works in nature conservation. |
| nature reserve | Naturschutzgebiet | Dogs must be kept on a lead in the nature reserve. |
| protected area | Schutzgebiet | The wetland became a protected area in 1990. |
| biodiversity | Biodiversität, Artenvielfalt | Biodiversity is declining worldwide. |
| habitat loss | Lebensraumverlust | Habitat loss is the main threat to many species. |
| rewilding | Rewilding, Wiederverwilderung | Rewilding lets natural processes take over again. |
| to reintroduce | wieder ansiedeln | Lynx have been reintroduced in some German forests. |
| Red List | Rote Liste | The species is on the Red List of threatened animals. |
| to restore | wiederherstellen, renaturieren | The project has restored a large area of bog. |
| volunteer | Freiwillige(r), Ehrenamtliche(r) | Volunteers clear the ponds every winter. |
Word Partners
Natural English depends on words that belong together. Learn these as complete phrases.
- to protect wildlife
- under threat
- to make a comeback
- to raise awareness
- conservation project
- endangered species
- to set aside land
- to recover
"White storks have made a comeback in many parts of Germany."
Useful Phrases
Sentence patterns you can use straight away.
Success stories
- Beavers have made a comeback.
- Numbers are slowly recovering.
- The project has restored a large area of wetland.
- Thanks to protection, the species is no longer endangered.
Arguing for protection
- We should protect… because…
- Without action, … could disappear.
- There's a balance to strike between… and…
- Local people need to be involved.
Talk About It
Answer these questions aloud, write a short paragraph, or discuss them with a partner.
- Is there a nature reserve near you? What is protected there?
- Should wolves, lynx and beavers be welcomed back?
- Would you volunteer for a conservation project?
- What is more important: protecting nature or building new homes?
Test Yourself
Click a question to see the answer.
1. What is "Naturschutzgebiet" in English?
A nature reserve.
2. What verb means to bring a species back to an area?
To reintroduce.
3. What does "to make a comeback" mean?
To return or become common again.
Explore More
Related topics on Talking English.
Talk about conservation and protection.
Learn the words, use them in real sentences and share what you notice with others.
Protect what you love.