Natural England confirms beaver release in the South West
© Adobe Stock Beavers are set to be released in South West England in the coming weeks, following approval by Natural England.
Two further licences have been issued as part of a government programme to reintroduce the species.
Natural England has identified 32 further projects for the release of wild beavers, with 11 already having been invited to apply.
See also: Widespread beaver release plans spark farming concern
Defra nature minister Mary Creagh said: “Beavers bring extraordinary benefits to our natural landscapes – they create havens for other wildlife, help reduce the impact of flood and droughts, and improve water quality in our rivers.
“The return of beavers is a vital part of this government’s mission to protect and restore nature. I look forward to these projects getting going and more future beaver releases.”
A new mapping tool, known as the Beaver Considerations Assessment Toolkit, was also launched by Natural England this week.
Previous beaver releases
Wild Eurasian beavers were first released in Dorset last year, a decision which received a mixed response from farming groups.
The NFU called for a management plan to be put in place, while the Nature Friendly Farming Network welcomed the move.
NFU Scotland also highlighted the significant damage caused to farmland as a result of a similar releases in Scotland, which resulted in beaver numbers soaring and having to be culled.
However, Natural England has stated that the return of beavers is being carefully managed to minimise any potential conflict with farming, food production and infrastructure.
Natural England chief executive Marian Spain said: “The successful return of beavers depends on well-planned, collaborative projects built on engagement and trust, and we are committed to getting it right for both nature and communities.”
Jenni Balmer, deputy director for nature recovery at the Environment Agency, added that the project had been designed to manage challenges, especially for flood risk and fisheries.