Scottish farmers against planto bring back the beaver

18 August 1998

Scottish farmers against plan
to bring back the beaver

SCOTTISH farmers are joining forces with anglers and landowners to oppose the reintroduction of the beaver to Scotland after 350 years.

Scottish Natural Heritage says it would be “ecologically feasible” to reintroduce up to 1000 beavers, probably imported from Scandinavia, to some rivers in central Scotland. But the National Farmers Union of Scotland says that beavers would damage cereal and potato crops.

Landowners says dam-building and burrowing into banks would cause flooding and waterlogging of surrounding land and damage to trees and vegetation important for river wildlife.

• The Times 18/08/98 page 9