KNOWLEDGE BASE

This paper analysed in-depth interviews conducted with people who had direct experience of beaver reintroductions in England - including those who may have been negatively affected. The aim was to understand the depth of feeling and the potential for conflict in beaver reintroductions. The results showed a polarised landscape, with landowning and fishery stakeholders expressing distrust in the science behind reintroductions, associated mitigation measures, and the financing of those measures. The report makes a number of recommendations to minimise the risk of conflict in future reintroductions.

This report assessed the evidence gathered during the River Otter Beaver Trial (ROBT) in England. It aimed to evaluate whether the trial had been successful and whether beavers should remain in the catchment after the licence expires. The report found that the trial had indeed been a success, with objectives met, conditions adhered to, and conflicts well managed. It recommended that beavers should be permitted to stay after the end of the ROBT. This was, in the end, the decision of the UK Government.

Beavers rely on both land and water for food, shelter, and safety. By using technologies which can recreate beavers' movements in 3D space, scientists were able to gather data on where, when, and under what conditions beavers dive in the water! By doing so, we learned that these beavers in Norway prefer diving near the riverbank and near aquatic plants like quillwort and shoreweed. Dives occurred more often at night. Some differences between dominant and subordinate beavers were also observed.

This study compared how quickly native Eurasian beavers and non-native North American beavers expanded their range in Finland. They found that the Eurasian beaver spread more slowly. However, the reasons which the researchers tested - geographical barriers to movement such as dams and watershed divides, and a lack of quality habitat - did not explain this finding. The native species' slower spread seemed linked to non-geographical factors like behaviour, warranting further study.

Process-based restoration of rivers allows ecosystems to recover naturally. This paper proposes four criteria to enable people to assess if a restoration project aligns with this approach. The criteria relate to: restoring natural processes and connectivity, using natural energy, using native materials, and considering time and adaptive management for long-term recovery. Beavers and their dams are cited throughout as examples of natural allies in this type of restoration work, given that they use natural energy, local materials, and are good at increasing habitat connectivity.