Cambridge English Exams
C1 Advanced Essay Writing: Protecting Biodiversity
Example Exam Task
You attended a public debate about how governments and communities can do more to protect biodiversity. The speakers discussed the decline in the number of plant and animal species and the growing threats to natural ecosystems. You have made the notes below:
What would be the most effective way to protect biodiversity?
- Create more protected areas
- Restore damaged ecosystems
- Restrict activities that threaten endangered species
Some opinions expressed during the debate:
- ‘We need to protect more areas where plants and animals can live safely.’
- ‘It is not enough to protect nature that remains. We should also restore ecosystems that have already been damaged.’
- ‘Stricter controls are needed on activities that put endangered species at risk.’
Write an essay, discussing two of the proposals in your notes. You should explain which proposal would be most effective in protecting biodiversity, giving reasons in support of your answer. Write 220–260 words in an appropriate style.
You may, if you wish, make use of the opinions expressed in the seminar, but you should use your own words as far as possible.
Example Essay
Protecting Biodiversity
The decline in biodiversity has become a major environmental concern, as many plant and animal species are increasingly threatened by human activity. Although creating more protected areas could provide valuable habitats for wildlife, this essay will argue that restoring damaged ecosystems would be the most effective approach because it could address the consequences of environmental degradation and create conditions in which biodiversity can recover.
Creating more protected areas could undoubtedly contribute to the preservation of biodiversity. National parks and nature reserves can provide animals and plants with safe habitats where human activity is limited. They can also protect particularly valuable ecosystems from urban development and intensive agriculture. However, expanding the network of protected areas may not be enough in regions where natural habitats have already suffered significant damage.
Restoring damaged ecosystems, however, could have even wider and more lasting benefits. Wetlands, forests and grasslands that have been degraded by pollution, deforestation or intensive farming can often be restored through carefully planned conservation projects. As natural habitats recover, they can once again support a greater variety of species and provide essential resources such as clean water and fertile soil. Furthermore, restoring ecosystems can strengthen their ability to withstand future environmental pressures, making conservation more sustainable in the long term. Consequently, this approach could benefit entire ecosystems rather than protecting individual species or areas in isolation.
In conclusion, although creating more protected areas is an important part of biodiversity conservation, restoring damaged ecosystems would be more effective overall. By bringing degraded natural environments back to life, it could create lasting conditions for a wide range of species to survive and thrive.
Photo: Hidcote Manor Garden, Gloucestershire © Great British Gardens