FAQ: What are the potential environmental impacts of beavers?
Our project is termed a 'trial' because it is a time-limited release of beavers to help us determine whether or not the reintroduction of beavers in Scotland is feasible and beneficial to nature conservation. While project partners track the beavers in the field and collect data on their activities, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) will work as the independent body tasked with co-ordinating the scientific monitoring of the trial. SNH will report to the Scottish Government on whether the conditions of the licence are being met on the ground.
Our trial will assess the ecology of the beaver in the current Scottish environment and the effects of beaver activities on the environment, including a range of land uses (primarily forestry and freshwater lochs) – and to compare these with the intensive research and management in mainland Europe.
Over 150 reintroductions have now been undertaken across Europe, most without the detailed monitoring proposed in the Scottish Beaver Trial, but some have been thoroughly studied enabling scientists to predict with confidence the likely pattern of events post reintroduction. Read more about European research on beaver reintroductions from our publications page. These studies help us to anticipate what the beavers' impact is likely to be in Mid-Argyll, but the purpose of our trial is to provide an opportunity to study their impact on Knapdale Forest.
The outputs of the scientific monitoring are now available on an independent SNH website.
Visit SNH online now to find out more.
