BSCG is disappointed by the Ministers statements to SNH on beavers (see report from Scottish parliament below).
BSCG convener Gus Jones commented "The Executive has taken a long time to come to this unhelpful decision. Beavers have been reintroduced widely in
Europe and there have been benefits both to local communities and the environment.
We have good beaver habitat in the Highlands and reintroducing beavers could encourage wiser management of woodlands by rivers.
Having observed European beavers in Lithuania and spoken to mammalogists there about many of the issues, I consider the public were quite right to support a
programme to reintroduce beavers to Scotland. Many negative fears are based on ignorance.
Humans were responsible for exterminating our beavers and to compensate we could bring them back successfully as has been done in many other European countries".
BSCG member Allan Bantick is also a member of the Scottish Beavers Network. He urges other BSCG members and anyone else not fully up to speed with the lifestyles of
European Beavers to visit www.scotsbeavers.org. The site is crammed with information about beavers and is a must-read for landowners, farmers, foresters,
conservationists and anyone else with even the slightest interest in bio-diversity.
Report From Scottish Parliament
No go-ahead for Beavers
20
/12/2002
Further information is required before the Executive can agree to proposals to re-introduce the European Beaver to
Scotland
, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has been told.
In a letter to SNH chairman John Markland, which outlined the process under which Ministers have
considered the application, Deputy Environment Minister Allan Wilson highlighted aspects of the proposed SNH pilot project that required further consideration.
These include the financing and management of the trial, the potential risks to
agric
ultural, forestry and salmon interests as well as a thorough assessment of any public health risks.
Mr Wilson said:
"I appreciate that a great deal of effort has been put into developing this proposal, and recognise
that SNH have attempted to address the wide range of complex legal, ecological and economic issues required in such an application.
"However, I am currently unable to grant approval for a licence under Section 16 (4) of the Wildlife
and Countryside Act 1981 on the basis of the information as presented.
"It would be helpful to know more about the experiences of other countries where European Beaver
have been introduced, including any longer term impacts."
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For further reading, here are some earlier articles on the subject
Scotland on Sunday 12 May 2002
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Beaver plan put on hold
JEREMY WATSON
A FLAGSHIP project to reintroduce the beaver to Scotland has been put on hold by the government after a fierce
lobbying campaign by landowners and farmers.
Scottish Natural Heritage recommended earlier this year that the beaver should be reintroduced into the Highlands after a gap of 400 years. SNH, the government’s environmental experts,
spent seven years drawing up plans for a trial release and more than £20,000 on consulting the public, who overwhelmingly backed the project.
But environment minister Allan Wilson has now said the SNH proposal raises "many questions" and that further "external consultation" cannot be ruled out. Wilson,
answering a parliamentary question put by Green MSP Robin Harper added: "It is premature to speculate on when a final decision on SNH’s application might be taken."
Wilson’s statement comes nine days after MSPs and MPs opposed to the project met rural affairs minister Ross Finnie at the Scottish Liberal Democrat conference in Perth.
One farmer opposed to the project threatened to take the government to court under European law.
Simon Pepper, head of WWF Scotland, asked: " Does all the money already spent have to go down the tubes because of pressure from narrow, single-interest groups?"
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Wed 2 Oct 2002
Beavers' return 'a double boost to Scotland'
James Reynolds ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT
RE-INTRODUCING beavers to Scotland would give an enormous boost to eco-tourism and
the economy in general, claims a leading wildlife conservation group.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) called on Allan Wilson, the deputy environment minister, yesterday to bring back the semi-aquatic rodents, after a 400-year absence, following extensive
public consultation.
Consultation over the past three years by organisations such as Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) have established that there is a large majority of people in favour of re-introduction, the
group claimed.
If the move is agreed, European beavers, probably from Norway, would be released into the Knapdale reserve on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll.
A trial introduction within an enclosed area was conducted by the Kent Wildlife Trust this year.
Steve Sankey, the chief executive of SWT, said: "Beavers have been re-introduced to over 12 EU member countries under the aegis of a EU Habitats Directive, but not to the UK.
"Scotland is one of the last European countries without a restored natural population. Re-introduction would represent an enormous boost to ecotourism and the economy of Scotland in
general - and to Argyllshire in particular."
He added: "Beaver are one of Scotland’s missing species and an ancient but rightful part of Scotland’s landscape and fauna. They fulfil a niche role in managing the landscape,
working as waterway engineers to remove small trees and other vegetation from around river systems.
"Such work provides and improves habitats for many other species."
In 1999, SNH found that 86 per cent of 1,944 people surveyed were in favour of the return of the beaver.
A Citizens Panel survey conducted independently in 2001 in Argyll and Bute found 46 per cent for, 21 per cent against and 33 per cent neutral.
The European beaver is the largest rodent native to Europe, with a distribution across the north of the continent. A distinct species from its North American relative, it grows to a metre
and can weigh 20kg.
An Executive spokesman said: " Only once ministers have fully assessed the complex ecological, economic and legal aspects of this trial re-introduction will a decision be made."
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