Alan McDonnell
Nature restoration is becoming increasingly important for many of us, and for it to be successful, it requires genuine collaboration to build pathways for coexistence.
Glen Affric, with its two large Highland lochs surrounded by native woodland, was once a thriving waterscape for beavers, a keystone species that created dams in small burns, forming pools that supported various species of insects, fish, and amphibians. Beavers also brought benefits such as dappled shade and increased nutrient flow from fallen leaves and dead wood, which further enriched the local ecosystem. Forestry & Land Scotland is partnering with us to reintroduce beavers to Glen Affric, marking a crucial first step for the species in Scotland. If successful, this will be the first translocation to the Highlands since Scotland's national beaver strategy was published last year.
The strategy, developed and agreed upon by over forty organisations, including farmers, fishermen, foresters, and rewilders, sets out a vision for expanding beavers in Scotland and putting management measures in place to address any issues that may arise.
Last summer, a partnership of four private landowners and Forestry & Land Scotland requested Trees for Life to gather community views on the proposal to translocate beavers from Tayside to Glen Affric and Strathglass. The responses were mixed, with some in favour and others against the proposal, often with strong emotions. A part of this mix was real worry and concern about how beavers could affect farmers. The farmers here are positive about wildlife and farm in sympathy with nature. The terrain in Strathglass is such that beaver impacts are very likely to be minor, but we found that a pro-beaver voice like ours only provides so much reassurance to people who are worried about their livelihoods.
While it is essential to emphasise the benefits that beavers bring to biodiversity, water quality, flood management, and local economies, it is equally important to acknowledge that they can impact land uses like farming. However, the experiences of other countries where beavers have been reintroduced have shown that the impacts can be managed with the right planning.
Finding the right pace of change is critical for coexisting with nature. We adjusted our proposal after understanding the concerns raised by the community, so that beavers will only be released to the water above a large hydro dam in Glen Affric, where the dam is likely to be a significant barrier to beaver dispersal for some years, and it will provide a clear point for detecting any downstream movement. A monitoring plan is being developed with the community, and a Beaver Officer will be employed to take responsibility for the monitoring and to increase NatureScot's capacity to manage beaver impacts if necessary.
Forestry & Land Scotland will begin applying for a license to make the release once the monitoring plan has been developed, and it is expected to take place in the coming autumn. Monitoring the beavers and building trust with the community will be the basis for coexistence with beavers in Glen Affric.
Thank you to the Fred Foundation for supporting our beaver project in Glen Affric.