A cross-sector group of 49 leading organisations including environmental, farming, water and business representatives, are today calling on the Labour Government to prioritise the reintroduction of beavers into the wild across England.
The group, which includes Beaver Trust, Rewilding Britain, the Nature Friendly Farming Network, Anglian Water and Wild Justice co-director Chris Packham, have published an open letter urging Defra to publish a long-overdue licensing framework and a national strategy to restore this keystone species to England’s rivers.
- Read the open letter: England wild beaver reintroduction letter
Despite overwhelming public support in a 2021 consultation – with 69% of respondents agreeing with the proposed approach – Defra has yet to bring forward the policy changes needed to make this happen and plans have stalled.
Scotland’s National Beaver Strategy, which encourages widespread beaver restoration across the country, was published in 2022 and offers a sharp contrast to England’s inaction. Without a formal framework in place, landowners in England eager to participate in the reintroduction of beavers to the wild are unable to do so. This has resulted in unlicensed releases, demonstrating that the absence of a national beaver strategy for England is already causing issues, and risks undermining the success of future licensed releases.
Sandra King, CEO of Beaver Trust, says: “Carefully planned releases of beavers into the wild in England could help the new Labour Government achieve the legally binding target to halt species decline by 2030. Beavers can transform degraded landscapes into rich wetland habitats, supporting biodiversity, improving water quality and creating climate-resilient landscapes that benefit people and wildlife alike.
But in order to maximise these benefits, Westminster Government must act now. Committing to publishing a clear licensing framework and national delivery strategy for wild beaver releases across England will unlock the potential of beaver reintroduction to help tackle the nature and climate crisis”.
Beavers are nature’s ecosystem engineers, with growing public and scientific support for their role in restoring degraded habitats. It is widely documented that beaver activity can reduce the amount of flooding afflicting downstream farmland and riverside infrastructure, whilst also creating critical wetland habitats for wildlife, trapping pollutants and sediment, improving water quality, restoring healthy river and floodplain ecosystems, re-engaging people with nature and generating much-needed ecotourism income.
These impacts are especially vital as England faces mounting challenges from droughts, flooding, and biodiversity loss. Yet, without a national beaver strategy for their reintroduction to the wild, England risks missing out on the many benefits this species can offer.
Prof Alastair Driver, Director of Rewilding Britain, says: “The release of beavers into the wild in England is the simplest, most cost-effective and positive nature-based solution that the UK Government can take to help deliver their climate and nature ambitions.
After more than 10 years of consultation and procrastination, it really is time to stop tip-toeing around the issue, grasp the nettle and publish the beaver reintroduction framework, strategy and delivery plan, alongside issuing the first government licenses for wild beaver releases without further delay”.
Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, says: “With communities across the country once again at risk of flooding, it’s time for the Government to facilitate the rollout of natural solutions like beaver releases. These ‘ecosystem engineers’ can play a big role in slowing water flow with the dams they build – reducing the risk of flooding downstream. Ministers have already acknowledged the importance of beavers in meeting legal targets on nature restoration so it’s time for releases to be licensed, with a clear national strategy in place.”
Rob Stoneman, Director of Landscape Recovery at The Wildlife Trusts, says: “This Government must stop dragging its heels and let beavers be free. It’s been five years since Devon Wildlife Trust’s River Otter beaver trial proved that the animals reduce flooding, three years since Defra’s beaver consultation opened, and nearly two years since beavers were officially recognised as a native species in England – yet there is still no indication of when licenses will be granted. Reintroducing wild beavers is an essential, effective, and cheap way to tackle flooding, nature loss and climate change.”
As England grapples with increasingly extreme weather, biodiversity loss and water quality concerns, the wild release of beavers offers an opportunity for nature recovery and climate resilience.
Signatories of the open letter are urging Defra to act immediately. By publishing a wild release licensing framework and beaver strategy for England, the Westminster Government will demonstrate their commitment to tackling the nature and climate crisis, turning public and political support into transformative environmental action.
