A consultation process is underway to involve all relevant parties in joint assessment of opportunities for reintroduction of beaver, and the benefits and costs associated with such an initiative.

Any reintroduction would require the approval of the Welsh Assembly Government and the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) as its relevant regulatory body.

Go Ahead for Beaver Assessment in Wales
An assessment study on the feasibility of reintroducing beaver into Wales is now under way. Sponsored by the countryside Council for Wales, this aims to carry forward the consultations with key interested parties undertaken over the last two years.

There will also be a review of options for management of any reintroduction, together with identification of areas where any prospective reintroduction might occur. This help with practical assessment of local impacts on landholders, communities - as well as broader biodiversity and hydrology issues.

Potential sources of funding support will also be identified.

Click to download Welsh Beaver Assessment Initiative (MS Word 220kb)

Background - Plan of Action 2005 - 2008
A meeting to assess the ecology and likely impact of any beaver reintroduction in Wales was held in Newtown, Powys in July 2005. This was attended by representatives of 24 organizations from the farming, forestry, fisheries, waterways and conservation sectors. The meeting agreed that there was a consensus to continue to examine the feasibility of introducing European Beaver to Wales. A number of actions were determined, of which the key elements are listed below.

Ensure the NFU Wales, FUW, CLA, ConFor, WSTAA and other land user and fishery interests have the opportunity to fully air and address any concerns over reintroduction - perhaps based initially on a compiled "checklist" of issues. This would involve a dialogue with their respective memberships and signposting to sources of information that are agreed to be impartial and reliable. A "link person" should be appointed to ensure this process occurs thoroughly to the satisfaction of the interested parties.

Assuming this process can be completed satisfactorily, the way should be clear for land user and fishery interests to form a joint Liaison Group together with conservation and other organizations - including further interests such as tourism. Decisions will be needed on which organizations would join this group, and which would be in liaison.

This Liaison Group should have a secretariat provided by an NGO - the Wildlife Trusts (WWT) being suggested for this role.

A strategy to be agreed and joint representation made to CCW, the Assembly and other relevant bodies.

The strategy could include:

Overall preconditions for reintroduction - eg legally valid opportunity for landholders to exercise full options on their property, including opportunity for culling and dam removal.

The procedure for individual reintroductions: eg environmental impact assessment, quarantine and exit strategies, maximisation of local economic benefit.

Funding. Requirements and sourcing (including funds given exclusively for beaver that might not otherwise be available) bearing in mind benefits, costs and revenues from reintroduction.

Assessment of a Beaver Management Support Service to provide an advice network on beaver issues. A localized rapid-reaction service for removal and translocation of beaver should also be considered.

Consideration of individual release sites (assuming satisfactory arrangements for the above aspects).

Promotion. What facilities may be needed for disseminating information to interested parties, including the public, press and other entities?

The current Beavers Mean Business project to ascertain the economic benefits of beaver, and how best to maximise these at local level for communities and landholders, should proceed and report back to all interested parties.

Establishment of an Advisory Group has also been proposed. Distinct from the liaison group in action 2 above, this would comprise individuals and organizations who wish to take part in the process. It could provide specialist input for the liaison group and enable wider participation - whilst allowing implementation of the above actions in as simple and streamlined a manner as possible.