biodiversity (n)
/ˌbaɪ.oʊ.dɪˈvɝː.sə.t̬i/

the variety of different types of plant and animal life in a particular region

landscape (n)
 /ˈlænd.skeɪp/

an area of land that is beautiful to look at or that has a particular type of appearance

be driven to the verge of (phrase)
 /biːˈdrɪv.ən tə ðə vɝːdʒ əv/

be forced to the edge or border of something

deforestation (n)
/ˌdiˌfɑrəˈsteɪʃn/

the process of removing the trees from an area of land

urbanization (n)
 /ˌɝː.bən.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/ 

the process by which towns and cities grow bigger and more and more people go to live in them

flooded (adj)
/ˈflʌd.ɪd/

become covered or submerged with water

Botanical Garden (n)
/bəˈtæn.ɪ.kəl ˈɡɑː.dən/

a public garden where many types of flowers and plants are grown, for people to enjoy and for scientific study

erosion (n)
/ɪˈroʊ.ʒən/

the process by which the surface of land or rock is gradually damaged by water

vegetation (n)
/ˌvedʒ.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/

plants and trees

co-exist (v)
 /ˌkoʊ.ɪɡˈzɪst/

to live or exist at the same time or in the same place

discharge (v)
/dɪsˈtʃɑːrdʒ/

to allow liquid or gas to leave a place, especially when this has harmful effects

conservation (n)
/ˌkɑːn.sɚˈveɪ.ʃən/

the management of land and water in ways that prevent it from being damaged or destroyed

destruction (n)
/dɪˈstrʌk.ʃən/

the action of destroying something, or the state of being destroyed

destroy (v)
 /dɪˈstrɔɪ/

to damage something so badly that it no longer exists, works, etc.

contamination (n)
 /kənˈtæm.ɪ.neɪt.ʃən/

the process of making something dirty, polluted, or poisonous by adding achemical, waste, or infection

endanger (v)
/ɪnˈdeɪn.dʒɚ/ 

to put someone or something into a situation where they might be harmed or damaged

species (n)
/ˈspiʃiz/

a set of animals or plants in which the members have similar characteristics to each other and can breed with each other

survive (v)
/sərˈvaɪv/

to continue to exist, especially in a difficult or dangerous situation

damage (n)
/ˈdæm.ɪdʒ/

physical harm caused to something so that it is broken, spoiled, or injured

at stake (prepphrase)
/æt steɪk/

likely to be lost or damaged if something fails