Deforestation and its impact on global weather patterns is a crucial environmental topic that has been featured in IELTS Writing Task 2 questions multiple times over the past few years. Given the increasing awareness of climate change and environmental issues, it’s highly likely that this theme will continue to appear in future IELTS exams. Let’s examine a relevant question that has appeared in recent IELTS tests and analyze it in depth.
Some people believe that deforestation is necessary for economic development, while others argue that it has devastating effects on the environment and global climate. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Analysis of the Question
This question is a classic example of an IELTS Writing Task 2 discussion essay. It requires candidates to:
- Discuss the view that deforestation is necessary for economic development
- Discuss the opposing view that deforestation has devastating environmental and climatic effects
- Provide their own opinion on the issue
It’s crucial to address all parts of the question to achieve a high band score. Let’s look at three sample essays of varying quality to illustrate how this question can be approached.
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)
Deforestation, the large-scale clearing of forests, is a contentious issue that has sparked heated debate worldwide. While some argue that it is essential for economic growth, others contend that its environmental and climatic repercussions are too severe to justify. This essay will examine both perspectives before presenting my own stance on this critical matter.
Proponents of deforestation often cite economic necessity as their primary justification. They argue that clearing forests provides land for agriculture, urban development, and infrastructure projects, which are crucial for a nation’s economic advancement. For instance, in developing countries, the timber industry can be a significant source of income and employment. Moreover, the land cleared through deforestation can be used for farming, potentially increasing food production and reducing poverty in rural areas.
However, the environmental consequences of deforestation are profound and far-reaching. Forests play a vital role in regulating global weather patterns by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, thus helping to mitigate climate change. The impact of deforestation on global weather patterns is significant, leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions, altered rainfall patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events. Furthermore, deforestation destroys habitats for countless species, leading to a dramatic loss of biodiversity. This ecological imbalance can have cascading effects on entire ecosystems and, ultimately, human well-being.
In my opinion, while the economic arguments for deforestation may seem compelling in the short term, the long-term environmental and climatic costs far outweigh any temporary economic gains. The global community must prioritize sustainable development practices that balance economic needs with environmental conservation. This could include initiatives such as sustainable forestry, agroforestry, and eco-tourism, which can provide economic benefits without the wholesale destruction of forests.
In conclusion, although deforestation may offer short-term economic advantages, its detrimental impact on the environment and global climate is too severe to ignore. It is imperative that nations work together to implement sustainable practices that protect our forests while still promoting economic growth. Only through such balanced approaches can we ensure a prosperous and environmentally stable future for generations to come.
(Word count: 345)
Deforestation's impact on global climate
Essay Analysis (Band 8-9)
This essay demonstrates excellent characteristics of a high-scoring IELTS Writing Task 2 response:
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Task Achievement: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, discussing both views and clearly stating the writer’s opinion.
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Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is well-organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, and ideas progress logically throughout the essay. Cohesive devices are used effectively (e.g., “However,” “Moreover,” “Furthermore”).
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Lexical Resource: The essay uses a wide range of vocabulary accurately and appropriately (e.g., “contentious issue,” “repercussions,” “cascading effects,” “ecological imbalance”).
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay demonstrates a wide range of grammatical structures used accurately and appropriately (e.g., complex sentences, passive voice, conditional statements).
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Development of Ideas: Each main point is well-developed with relevant examples and explanations.
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Conclusion: The conclusion effectively summarizes the main points and reinforces the writer’s opinion.
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)
Deforestation is a big problem in many countries today. Some people think it’s necessary for economic development, but others say it’s very bad for the environment and global climate. In this essay, I will discuss both views and give my opinion.
On one hand, deforestation can help countries develop economically. When forests are cut down, the land can be used for other things like farming or building cities. This can create jobs and help people make money. For example, in some poor countries, selling wood from forests is an important way for people to earn a living. Also, when forests are cleared, the land can be used to grow food, which is important for feeding a growing population.
On the other hand, cutting down forests has many negative effects on the environment and climate. Trees are very important for the Earth because they absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. Deforestation in the Amazon, for instance, is causing big problems for the world’s climate. When trees are cut down, it leads to more pollution and can cause climate change. This can result in more natural disasters like floods and droughts. Also, many animals lose their homes when forests are destroyed, which is bad for biodiversity.
In my opinion, I think the negative effects of deforestation are more serious than the economic benefits. While it’s true that cutting down forests can help some people make money in the short term, the long-term damage to our planet is too big to ignore. I believe we need to find other ways to develop our economies without destroying forests.
To conclude, although deforestation might bring some economic advantages, I think its harmful effects on the environment and global climate are more important. Governments and people should work together to protect forests and find sustainable ways to develop their economies.
(Word count: 309)
Essay Analysis (Band 6-7)
This essay demonstrates characteristics of a mid-range IELTS Writing Task 2 response:
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Task Achievement: The essay addresses all parts of the task, discussing both views and stating the writer’s opinion. However, the ideas could be more fully developed.
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Coherence and Cohesion: The essay has a clear structure with introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Basic cohesive devices are used (e.g., “On one hand,” “On the other hand,” “To conclude”), but they could be more sophisticated.
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Lexical Resource: The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, but lacks the sophistication and precision of higher-band essays. There’s some attempt at using less common vocabulary (e.g., “biodiversity”), but the range is limited.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there’s less variety compared to higher-band essays. There are no major grammatical errors, but the structures used are relatively simple.
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Development of Ideas: Main ideas are present and supported, but the explanations and examples could be more detailed and specific.
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Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes the main points and restates the writer’s opinion, but could be more nuanced.
Sample Essay 3 (Band 5-6)
Nowadays, deforestation is a big problem in many countries. Some people say it’s good for economy, but others think it’s very bad for environment and weather. I will talk about both sides and give my idea.
First, deforestation can help economy. When we cut trees, we can use the land for other things. We can make farms or build houses and factories. This gives jobs to people and they can earn money. In poor countries, selling wood is important for many people to live.
But, cutting trees is also very bad for nature. Trees are very important because they clean the air and give us oxygen. When we cut them, it makes the air dirty and causes global warming. The impact of climate change on poverty is significant, especially in developing countries. Also, many animals lose their homes when forests are gone. This is not good for nature.
I think deforestation is more bad than good. Even though it can help some people get money, it hurts our planet too much. We need to find better ways to make money without cutting so many trees.
In conclusion, deforestation might help economy a little, but it’s very bad for environment and weather. We should try to save forests and find other ways to improve our lives.
(Word count: 213)
Economic vs. Environmental Impacts of Deforestation
Essay Analysis (Band 5-6)
This essay demonstrates characteristics of a lower mid-range IELTS Writing Task 2 response:
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Task Achievement: The essay addresses the basic requirements of the task, discussing both views and giving an opinion. However, the ideas are underdeveloped and lack depth.
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Coherence and Cohesion: The essay has a basic structure, but paragraphing is not always logical. Simple cohesive devices are used (e.g., “First,” “But,” “In conclusion”), but they are repetitive and lack sophistication.
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Lexical Resource: The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are attempts to use topic-specific words (e.g., “global warming”), but the overall range is narrow.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay primarily uses simple sentence structures with occasional attempts at more complex ones. There are some grammatical errors, but they don’t significantly impede communication.
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Development of Ideas: Main ideas are present but lack detailed support or examples. The arguments are simplistic and not fully explored.
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Conclusion: The conclusion restates the main points and the writer’s opinion, but it’s overly simplistic and doesn’t add any new insights.
Key Vocabulary to Remember
- Deforestation (noun) – /diːˌfɒrɪˈsteɪʃn/ – the action of clearing a wide area of trees
- Biodiversity (noun) – /ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsəti/ – the variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat
- Ecosystem (noun) – /ˈiːkəʊˌsɪstəm/ – a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment
- Sustainable (adjective) – /səˈsteɪnəbl/ – able to be maintained at a certain rate or level
- Climate change (noun phrase) – /ˈklaɪmət tʃeɪndʒ/ – long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns
- Carbon dioxide (noun) – /ˌkɑːbən daɪˈɒksaɪd/ – a greenhouse gas produced by burning fossil fuels
- Agroforestry (noun) – /ˌægrəʊˈfɒrɪstri/ – a land use management system that combines trees with crops or livestock
- Mitigation (noun) – /ˌmɪtɪˈgeɪʃn/ – the action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something
In conclusion, the topic of deforestation and its impact on global weather patterns is likely to remain relevant in IELTS Writing Task 2 questions. To prepare effectively, practice writing essays on related themes such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development. Remember to always address all parts of the question, use a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures, and support your arguments with relevant examples. Should countries collaborate to combat climate change is another related topic you might encounter in IELTS Writing Task 2.
We encourage you to practice writing your own essay on this topic and share it in the comments section below. This active practice is an excellent way to improve your writing skills and prepare for the IELTS exam. Good luck with your IELTS preparation!
