Beavers have been approved for release at two sites in the River Beauly catchment in the Scottish Highlands. NatureScot has given permission the move and a licence has been granted to Forestry and Land Scotland for up to four families of beavers at Glen Affric National Nature Reserve (NNR).
Approval has also been granted to Abriachan Forest Trust for a separate project to release two families of beavers on the trust’s land.
The approvals follow further engagement by NatureScot over the summer to better understand and address concerns raised by land and fisheries interests in Beauly and Strathglass about beaver release proposals.
In response, NatureScot together with FLS have committed to establishing and supporting a Beauly Beaver Mitigation and Monitoring Group for at least 10 years post-release. The group will bring together representatives of all interested parties to effectively manage any potential issues.
Chris Donald, NatureScot’s Head of Operations for Central Highland, said: “We understand that people have strong views both for and against the release of beavers in the Glen Affric area in particular.
“Over the summer, we have taken the time to gather more detailed information about potential impacts and discuss solutions directly with land managers who may be affected.
“Beavers can bring many benefits for nature and people – including creating biodiverse habitats, moderating water flows and improving water quality – all of which can play a part in creating climate-resilient landscapes.
“After careful consideration, we believe that it is possible to realise these many benefits while ensuring that the community is supported in living with beavers. We have committed to long-term monitoring and mitigation of any impacts over the next decade and beyond to ensure that these releases are a success.”
The proposals follow extensive consultation by Forestry and Land Scotland and Trees For Life in Glen Affric and Abriachan Forest Trust and Scotland: The Big Picture in Abriachan, which has highlighted the range of views on beaver releases in the area, as well as the potential issues that will require monitoring and mitigation.
As a small number of beavers have already been living on the River Beauly system for the last decade as a result of unauthorised escapes or releases, approval of release licences in the catchment will formalise beaver presence in the area.
The releases support Scotland’s Beaver Strategy, which aims to increase the current range of beavers in Scotland, restoring them to suitable parts of the country, with appropriate management and mitigation where necessary.
The approvals mark the sixth catchment to which beavers have either been officially granted permission to remain or have been released. Populations are already established in Tayside, on the Forth, in Knapdale, Loch Lomond and the Cairngorms National Park.