The consultation solicited opinions on possible future releases into the wild, current and future releases to fences, and management of beaver activities or impacts in the wild, including in the otter river and other places where free-living beavers inhabit.
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It recommends that permits for reintroduction to the wild need to meet standards, including demonstrating active stakeholder participation and local support, and certifying that the impacts on surrounding land, waterways, infrastructure, habitats, and species have been fully assessed.
According to the proposal, the project must also ensure that support for landowners and river users is in place.
The government also announced plans to provide legal protection for beavers in England, which will take effect in 2022.
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Rob Stoneman of the Wildlife Trust said: “There is ample evidence of how beavers can help improve the quality of rivers and wetlands and the wildlife they support, improve water quality, reduce flood risk, and contribute to carbon storage.
“Beavers are great-they can do all this work for free.”
But he said: “Beavers are wild animals-as their population expands, their activities will need to be managed,” adding that the trust fund will continue to play a key role in the return of beavers in a responsible manner.
Elasticity
Eva Bishop of the Beaver Trust said that this news is an important step in the recovery of the beavers in the UK, and it is vital to reach a consensus on the return of the beavers.
“We want to see beavers accepted in the countryside like any other native wildlife-especially because they play a role in natural restoration and the resilience of British wildlife in climate emergencies,” she said.
Professor Alastair Driver, director of Rewilding British, said that beavers can help rewild the countryside-an important tool for responding to natural and climate emergencies.
“Beavers can carry out most of the rewilding activities completely free of charge in river and wetland environments-therefore, with the correct local community support and appropriate management strategies, we should send them back to where they belong. It is a “wise move” for our catchment area.”
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These measures will apply to England. Scotland has also witnessed the return of beavers to the wild. The Scottish government provided them with legal protection in 2019, but if they destroy farmland, they can be killed with permission.
Richard Bramley, Chairman of the National Farmers’ Union Environmental Forum, said: “Any re-introduction will receive strict permits from Natural England. It’s positive. Sufficient funds are available for support.
“Any impact on farmers’ ability to produce food needs to be included in a comprehensive impact assessment before any permits are issued.”
He warned that the reintroduction of beavers may have negative effects, such as damage to trees and obstruction of drainage of farmland. If it causes economic impact on farmers, sufficient compensation must be paid, and if major problems occur, an exit strategy must be formulated.
This author
Emily Beament is the PA Environmental Correspondent.
