Britain… The return of beavers raises concerns among farmers

The British government announced on Friday that it has allowed the reintroduction of beavers into the wild in England under supervision after these animals disappeared from the country centuries ago.

This sharp-toothed mammal is considered a source of biodiversity because the structures it builds in waterways help create wetlands and act as a barrier against erosion. However, its reintroduction into the wild has drawn criticism from farmers due to the floods its dams can cause in agricultural lands.

The Ministry of Environment said in a statement: “As part of major conservation efforts, the government on Friday outlined a new approach that allows beavers to live in the wild amidst England’s precious landscapes.”
After several experimental projects, any organization wishing to implement a project to reintroduce the Eurasian beaver into the wild will need to obtain a license, with mandatory monitoring for a period of 10 years.

The ministry stated that the return of beavers, which became extinct in England due to overhunting, “will be carefully managed to avoid any impact on agriculture, food production, and infrastructure.”

Tony Juniper, the director of the British public body “Natural England” responsible for environmental protection, said: “Beavers have been absent from our nature for almost 400 years, and this cautious approach towards their planned return represents an important step towards restoring nature in England.”

Roisin Campbell Palmer from the Beaver Trust, which is leading a campaign to reintroduce the mammals to their native habitat, said: “This historic moment for beavers in England could be an important step in addressing some of the major environmental challenges we face.”

She pointed out that the United Kingdom is “far behind the rest of Europe” in this field, where the presence of animals has become well-established in several countries, including France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and Spain.

However, this project raises some concerns, especially among farmers.
Tom Bradshaw, the president of the National Farmers’ Union, emphasized the “necessity of allowing farmers to kill beavers if they end up in the wrong place.”
The government’s plan states that “as a last resort, beavers may be captured and relocated to another place, or killed in an organized manner.”