Download Introduction - Scottish Beaver Trial

The Scottish Beaver
Trial
What is a beaver?
o Largest rodent in Europe -
can grow up to 1.4metres in
length
o Can live for up to 15 years
o Herbivorous – only eat
plants
o Sharp, long front teeth for
gnawing wood
o Crepuscular/nocturnal –
coming out at dusk and
active over night
Why bring back the
beaver?
o Legal - Article 22 of the EC ‘Habitats Directive’
o Benefits - public interest, wildlife tourism
o Desire – most people wish to see beavers restored
o Morals - a species lost through human actions
o Environmental – a missing, native ‘keystone species’ in
the ecology of riparian woodlands and wetlands, water
quality
Where is the Beaver
Trial?
o West Scotland
o Argyll and Bute
o Lochgilphead area
o Knapdale Forest
o A variety of loch sites
Where is the Beaver
Trial?
Why Knapdale?
o Ecological suitability
o Working Forestry
Commission forest
o Natural containment
o Majority of respondents
supported trial
o Local SNH and FCS offices
o Access for field workers
o Visitor facilities
o Ongoing management and
restoration
o SAC, SSSI, NSA & SWT
Wildlife Reserve
What is actually
happening?
oThe Trial is a partnership between the
Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, with the
host partner Forestry Commission
Scotland
oThe release licence was granted by
the Scottish government
oAnimals collected from Telemark,
Norway, in Autumn 2008
oQuarantined for 6 months in Devon,
England
oTrial period 2009 – 2014
oReview by Scottish Natural Heritage
on behalf of the Scottish government
Aims of the Trial
oStudy the ecology and biology
of the European beaver in the
Scottish environment.
oLook at the effects of beaver
activities on the natural and
socio-economic environment.
oDetermine the extent and
impact of any increased
tourism generated through the
presence of beaver.
oGenerate information during the
proposed trial release that will
inform potential further release of
beavers at other sites with different
habitat characteristics.
oExplore the environmental
education opportunities that may
arise from the trial itself and the
scope for a wider programme
should the trial be successful.
The end, any questions?
www.scottishbeavers.org.uk