- Location
- Glen Clova, Angus, DD8 4RD
DEFRA have a consultation on how further Beaver re-introductions in England should be managed:
While we intend to give beavers legal protection please note we are beginning a review of species legislation with a view to enhancing and modernising it. We intend to publish a Green Paper and seek views later this year. Giving beavers this protection means that it will be an offence to deliberately capture, kill, disturb or injure beavers. It will also be an offence to damage or destroy breeding sites or resting places. Therefore, if an individual wants to undertake management activities which would otherwise be prohibited, they will be required to apply for a licence from Natural England. We will develop guidance to help stakeholders to understand when a licence is required and how to apply for a licence.
A management hierarchy for beaver could include the following steps:
• Avoid or tolerate negative impacts, such as:
o allowing space for potential impacts, for example by creating buffer zones along the side of watercourses where valuable crops or trees are not planted.
o exploring financial incentives available for landowners to make space for environmental benefits provided by beavers.
• Use legal management or mitigation methods if negative impacts cannot be avoided, including:
o protecting trees of value from felling with tree guards or anti-beaver paint.
o fencing to exclude beavers from undesirable areas.
o protecting banks from burrowing impacts.
• If unavoidable and other solutions are not satisfactory, apply for a licence to undertake actions including:
o destruction or modification of dams, lodges and burrows,
o translocation or
o lethal control
Some mitigation and management may require permitting from the relevant authority and all must be undertaken in compliance with existing legislation.
Translocation of beavers or lethal control must only be considered as a last resort, however in circumstances where this is unavoidable, licences may be obtainable.
Government policy is that it is the responsibility of landowners to cover the costs of managing impacts of wild animals on their land. In line with this, Defra will not provide direct payments for management of negative impacts of beaver activity or pay compensation. However, we recognise that beaver reintroductions are unique circumstances. Therefore, Defra will consider facilitating the creation of management groups around existing beaver populations to help manage impacts and provide management advice to landowners and stakeholders for beaver populations outside of a Project Plan.
Consultation on approach to beaver reintroduction and management in England - Defra - Citizen Space
This site contains consultations that are run by Defra.
consult.defra.gov.uk
While we intend to give beavers legal protection please note we are beginning a review of species legislation with a view to enhancing and modernising it. We intend to publish a Green Paper and seek views later this year. Giving beavers this protection means that it will be an offence to deliberately capture, kill, disturb or injure beavers. It will also be an offence to damage or destroy breeding sites or resting places. Therefore, if an individual wants to undertake management activities which would otherwise be prohibited, they will be required to apply for a licence from Natural England. We will develop guidance to help stakeholders to understand when a licence is required and how to apply for a licence.
A management hierarchy for beaver could include the following steps:
• Avoid or tolerate negative impacts, such as:
o allowing space for potential impacts, for example by creating buffer zones along the side of watercourses where valuable crops or trees are not planted.
o exploring financial incentives available for landowners to make space for environmental benefits provided by beavers.
• Use legal management or mitigation methods if negative impacts cannot be avoided, including:
o protecting trees of value from felling with tree guards or anti-beaver paint.
o fencing to exclude beavers from undesirable areas.
o protecting banks from burrowing impacts.
• If unavoidable and other solutions are not satisfactory, apply for a licence to undertake actions including:
o destruction or modification of dams, lodges and burrows,
o translocation or
o lethal control
Some mitigation and management may require permitting from the relevant authority and all must be undertaken in compliance with existing legislation.
Translocation of beavers or lethal control must only be considered as a last resort, however in circumstances where this is unavoidable, licences may be obtainable.
Government policy is that it is the responsibility of landowners to cover the costs of managing impacts of wild animals on their land. In line with this, Defra will not provide direct payments for management of negative impacts of beaver activity or pay compensation. However, we recognise that beaver reintroductions are unique circumstances. Therefore, Defra will consider facilitating the creation of management groups around existing beaver populations to help manage impacts and provide management advice to landowners and stakeholders for beaver populations outside of a Project Plan.
