C1 · Advanced

Environment & Nature — C1 English Vocabulary

This C1 vocabulary list gathers 60 advanced English words about environment & nature — ecosystems, climate and conservation. Every word comes with its British-English pronunciation and a natural example sentence, so you learn each one in real context. When you are ready, open the flashcards to practise and remember them for good.

  1. biome/ˈbaɪ.əʊm/

    “The desert is a harsh biome.”

  2. biosphere/ˈbaɪ.ə.sfɪə/

    “Life fills the biosphere.”

  3. food chain/ˈfuːd tʃeɪn/

    “Sharks sit atop the food chain.”

  4. apex predator/ˈeɪ.peks ˌpred.ə.tə/

    “The lion is an apex predator.”

  5. herbivore/ˈhɜː.bɪ.vɔː/

    “A cow is a herbivore.”

  6. carnivore/ˈkɑː.nɪ.vɔː/

    “A wolf is a carnivore.”

  7. omnivore/ˈɒm.nɪ.vɔː/

    “A bear is an omnivore.”

  8. predator/ˈpred.ə.tə/

    “The predator stalked its prey.”

  9. prey/preɪ/

    “The eagle spotted its prey.”

  10. ecology/iˈkɒl.ə.dʒi/

    “She studies marine ecology.”

  11. regenerative/rɪˈdʒen.ər.ə.tɪv/

    “They practise regenerative farming.”

  12. carbon sink/ˈkɑː.bən sɪŋk/

    “Forests act as a carbon sink.”

  13. sequestration/ˌsiː.kwesˈtreɪ.ʃən/

    “Carbon sequestration buries CO2.”

  14. permafrost/ˈpɜː.mə.frɒst/

    “The permafrost is thawing.”

  15. tundra/ˈtʌn.drə/

    “Few plants grow on the tundra.”

  16. savannah/səˈvæn.ə/

    “Elephants roam the savannah.”

  17. coral reef/ˈkɒr.əl riːf/

    “The coral reef is dying.”

  18. mangrove/ˈmæŋ.ɡrəʊv/

    “Mangrove swamps protect the coast.”

  19. estuary/ˈes.tʃu.ər.i/

    “Birds feed in the estuary.”

  20. catchment/ˈkætʃ.mənt/

    “The river’s catchment is huge.”

  21. tributary/ˈtrɪb.jə.tər.i/

    “The stream is a tributary of the Nile.”

  22. silt/sɪlt/

    “The river deposited rich silt.”

  23. fertile/ˈfɜː.taɪl/

    “The valley soil is fertile.”

  24. arid/ˈær.ɪd/

    “It is an arid region.”

  25. temperate/ˈtem.pər.ət/

    “Britain has a temperate climate.”

  26. tropical/ˈtrɒp.ɪ.kəl/

    “Tropical storms hit the coast.”

  27. monsoon/mɒnˈsuːn/

    “The monsoon flooded the fields.”

  28. stratosphere/ˈstræt.ə.sfɪə/

    “Ozone sits in the stratosphere.”

  29. greenhouse gas/ˈɡriːn.haʊs ɡæs/

    “Methane is a greenhouse gas.”

  30. rewilding/ˌriːˈwaɪl.dɪŋ/

    “Rewilding brought back the beavers.”

  31. reforestation/riːˌfɒr.ɪˈsteɪ.ʃən/

    “Reforestation restores the land.”

  32. afforestation/əˌfɒr.ɪˈsteɪ.ʃən/

    “Afforestation greens the desert.”

  33. overfishing/ˌəʊ.vəˈfɪʃ.ɪŋ/

    “Overfishing emptied the seas.”

  34. poaching/ˈpəʊ.tʃɪŋ/

    “Poaching threatens the rhino.”

  35. imperilled/ɪmˈper.əld/

    “The species is imperilled.”

  36. invasive/ɪnˈveɪ.sɪv/

    “The plant is an invasive species.”

  37. endemic/enˈdem.ɪk/

    “The lizard is endemic to the island.”

  38. flora/ˈflɔː.rə/

    “The island has unique flora.”

  39. fauna/ˈfɔː.nə/

    “The reserve protects local fauna.”

  40. pollinate/ˈpɒl.ɪ.neɪt/

    “Bees pollinate the crops.”

  41. germinate/ˈdʒɜː.mɪ.neɪt/

    “The seeds will germinate in spring.”

  42. decompose/ˌdiː.kəmˈpəʊz/

    “Leaves decompose into soil.”

  43. biodegrade/ˌbaɪ.əʊ.dɪˈɡreɪd/

    “These cups biodegrade quickly.”

  44. particulate/pəˈtɪk.jə.lət/

    “Particulate pollution harms lungs.”

  45. microclimate/ˈmaɪ.krəʊˌklaɪ.mət/

    “The garden has its own microclimate.”

  46. desertification/dɪˌzɜː.tɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

    “Desertification spreads south.”

  47. fertiliser/ˈfɜː.tɪ.laɪ.zə/

    “Too much fertiliser pollutes rivers.”

  48. pesticide/ˈpes.tɪ.saɪd/

    “Pesticide killed the bees.”

  49. runoff/ˈrʌn.ɒf/

    “Farm runoff entered the lake.”

  50. acidification/əˌsɪd.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

    “Ocean acidification harms shellfish.”

  51. decarbonise/diːˈkɑː.bən.aɪz/

    “Nations pledge to decarbonise.”

  52. biomass/ˈbaɪ.əʊ.mæs/

    “They burn biomass for heat.”

  53. conservationist/ˌkɒn.səˈveɪ.ʃən.ɪst/

    “A conservationist led the project.”

  54. migratory/ˈmaɪ.ɡrə.tər.i/

    “Migratory birds pass through.”

  55. burrow/ˈbʌr.əʊ/

    “The rabbit dug a burrow.”

  56. symbiosis/ˌsɪm.baɪˈəʊ.sɪs/

    “The two species live in symbiosis.”

  57. resilient/rɪˈzɪl.i.ənt/

    “The forest is remarkably resilient.”

  58. smokestack/ˈsməʊk.stæk/

    “The smokestack belched fumes.”

  59. wilderness/ˈwɪl.də.nəs/

    “They hiked deep into the wilderness.”

  60. conservancy/kənˈsɜː.vən.si/

    “The land is run by a conservancy.”