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The Scottish Beaver Trial

The Scottish Beaver Trial. What is a beaver?. Largest rodent in Europe - can grow up to 1.4metres in length Can live for up to 15 years Herbivorous – only eat plants Sharp, long front teeth for gnawing wood Crepuscular/nocturnal – coming out at dusk and active over night.

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The Scottish Beaver Trial

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  1. The Scottish Beaver Trial

  2. What is a beaver? • Largest rodent in Europe - can grow up to 1.4metres in length • Can live for up to 15 years • Herbivorous – only eat plants • Sharp, long front teeth for gnawing wood • Crepuscular/nocturnal – coming out at dusk and active over night

  3. Why bring back the beaver? • Legal - Article 22 of the EC ‘Habitats Directive’ • Benefits - public interest, wildlife tourism • Desire – most people wish to see beavers restored • Morals - a species lost through human actions • Environmental – a missing, native ‘keystone species’ in the ecology of riparian woodlands and wetlands, water quality

  4. Where is the Beaver Trial? • West Scotland • Argyll and Bute • Lochgilphead area • Knapdale Forest • A variety of loch sites

  5. Where is the Beaver Trial?

  6. Why Knapdale? • Ecological suitability • Working Forestry • Commission forest • Natural containment • Majority of respondents • supported trial • Local SNH and FCS offices • Access for field workers • Visitor facilities • Ongoing management and • restoration • SAC, SSSI, NSA &SWT • Wildlife Reserve

  7. What is actually happening? • The Trial is a partnership between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, with the host partner Forestry Commission Scotland • The release licence was granted by the Scottish government • Animals collected from Telemark, Norway, in Autumn 2008 • Quarantined for 6 months in Devon, England • Trial period 2009 – 2014 • Review by Scottish Natural Heritage on behalf of the Scottish government

  8. Aims of the Trial • Study the ecology and biology of the European beaver in the Scottish environment.

  9. Look at the effects of beaver activities on the natural and socio-economic environment.

  10. Determine the extent and impact of any increased tourism generated through the presence of beaver.

  11. Generate information during the proposed trial release that will inform potential further release of beavers at other sites with different habitat characteristics.

  12. Explore the environmental education opportunities that may arise from the trial itself and the scope for a wider programme should the trial be successful.

  13. The end, any questions? www.scottishbeavers.org.uk

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