Dam good news! Go-ahead to release beavers into UK's rivers welcomed in Cornwall

Yahoo

28-02-2025

Cornwall Wildlife Trust said it welcomes the UK Government's decision to open the door for licenced reintroductions of beavers into the wild.
Defra also confirmed that all existing wild beaver populations, including ones found in Cornwall, will be allowed to remain and expand naturally.
The Government announced today that applications to return beavers into river catchments in England will be accepted, with Natural England developing a detailed licencing regime and application process.
This paves the way for this native species to roam wild in British rivers and lakes once more, helping to create wetlands and increase biodiversity.
The return of beavers has been carefully planned over a long period of time, with Defra running a public beaver consultation three years ago.
The news has been welcomed by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust (Image: Jo Hackman Photography) Cornwall Wildlife Trust have been developing their ambitious wild release licence for the past two years, and said the long-term vision is to achieve a self-sustaining and genetically diverse population of beavers in the Par and Fowey catchment area.
If a licence is approved, the project will support landowners and communities through the transition to living alongside beavers.
Lauren Jasper, beaver officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said: 'Licenced beaver reintroductions present a huge win for nature and the fight against climate change.
'Studies have repeatedly shown that beavers can bring huge benefit for wildlife, reduce flooding, improve water quality, support carbon storage and increase drought resilience.
'Having identified lots of suitable habitat for beavers in our Par and Fowey project area, we've been working on our wild beaver release licence over the past several years, collecting baseline data, engaging with local stakeholder groups and developing a beaver management approach.
'We're thrilled with the news that we'll be able to submit this application to Natural England shortly.'
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Wild releases are expected to take place around the country as early as autumn this year.
Cornwall Wildlife Trust says that beavers are a nature-based solution to many problems the country's rivers face and are shown to significantly reduce flood peaks.
Currently just 14 per cent of the UK's rivers are in good ecological condition, and beavers are described as 'natural ecosystem engineers' by retaining as well as releasing water, filtering pollution and creating the conditions for an increase in wetland and river wildlife.
The UK's Wildlife Trusts have built large enclosures to house beavers and test their return to Britain. They are now poised to work with partners such as the Beaver Trust to return beavers to all Britain's major river catchments.
Beavers help improve the condition of rivers and reduce flooding (Image: Mike Symes) Rob Stoneman, director of landscape recovery at The Wildlife Trusts, said: 'Beavers lived alongside us for thousands of years before we hunted them to British extinction a few hundred years ago.
'Now we'll be able to see beavers return to our rivers and, in turn, witness the way they create new wetlands and flood protection for our homes and ensure better water quality – at almost no cost to society. More than that, we can all experience the magic of seeing beavers back in rivers that will be wilder as a result.
'Now that the first step has been taken to letting beavers be free, we need to see sufficient advice, support, and funding earmarked for landowners to help them facilitate beavers on their land and manage the resulting changes to landscapes.'