Eurasian beavers have been acknowledged as a European protected species in England. This honor makes it illegal to kill, capture, injure or disturb them.
Eurasian beavers have been acknowledged as a European protected species in England. This honor makes it illegal to kill, capture, injure or disturb them.
For instance, landowners will need a license from Natural England before they can harm a dam or burrow. Wildlife organizations applauded the choice. They claim that the ecology benefited from dams because they kept the water clean and shielded the area from drought and flooding.
Sandra King, chief executive of Trust, said, “Beavers bring such an astonishing array of ecosystem services to our landscape, this truly is a historic day for the species in England.”
Previously, the National Farmer’s Union had objected to beavers becoming a protected species. They said that their dams could pose a flooding risk to agricultural land.
In response to the law change, the National Farmer’s Union stated that many farmers “will be rightfully concerned about the possible impact of on their land and will be asking for adequate tools and support to manage a species that could influence their company and on food production.”
In accordance with The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations of 2017, are currently a European Protected Species.
Craig Bennett, chief executive of the Wildlife Trusts, said, “Clarity around legal protections for beavers are crucial if populations are to recover and thrive long term – it is extremely disappointing that this legislation has been brought to a juddering halt, with no explanation why.”
These protections apply to species of animals that are endangered, vulnerable, rare, or otherwise in danger throughout Europe.
Other European Protected Species present in the UK include the Large Blue Butterfly, bats, the Natterjack Toad, and the Sand Lizard.
Eurasian were once widely distributed. However, 400 years ago, they were hunted to extinction. They have now been restored in a number of locations throughout Britain.
In 2009, Scotland’s Scottish Beaver Trial saw the release of wild beavers. It was the UK’s first officially approved mammal reintroduction effort. Beavers received protected status in Scotland in 2019.
Beavers were released throughout the UK under the direction of The Wildlife Trusts. It praised the development but demanded more details on the procedures to be followed to permit reintroductions.
“This gives clarity where beavers are currently present in our river catchments – which is a tiny fraction of our rivers and wetlands in the country. However, there is no strategy in place to guide future beaver reintroductions which have gained overwhelming support nationwide”, said Peter Burgees, director of Nature Recovery at Devon Wildlife Trust.
The NFU said that it would monitor the actual results of any future policy adjustments, reintroductions, and population levels. They will have legal representation. Therefore, it will be against the law to harm or kill them.
According to some environmentalists, the strategy, which will be put into action later this year, will allow for the reintroduction of the rodents into the wild.
There are currently hundreds of beavers living in the wild alongside England’s waterways, and some scientists think there may even be up to 800. The law will take effect on October 1st.
According to Fry, the project came about when volunteers, especially young people from the neighbourhood, decided to carry out the installation and the city of Taos agreed to pay for the necessary supplies.
As Fry emphasised, “it’s a beautiful example of a simple, simple technology that manages flooding and permits the beaver to remain on the landscape and deliver all these great ecological benefits.” For not just themselves but also for other species and people.
These animals are referred to as “nature’s engineers” because when they construct dams, they create wetlands, which are crucial habitats for numerous plants and animals. Additionally, they stop issues like wildfires by keeping water on the soil.
Derek Gow, a farmer turned rewilder who is known as one of the country’s leading beaver experts, said, “The news that beavers will be afforded legal protection in England is both welcome and appropriate. We have been very slow to recognize the critical role that this species delivers in the creation of complex wetland landscapes which can afford resilience against the twin extremes of flood and drought. All they need from us to guarantee this goal is understanding, tolerance, and space.”
