NATURESCOT APPROVES BEAVER RELEASES AROUND LOCH NESS

NatureScot has approved a plan by the Beaver Trust and Trees for Life to release up to 15 beaver families around Loch Ness over the next three years. The charities say the releases would return beavers to the area about 500 years after their last recorded appearance there. They plan to bring the animals from other parts of Scotland to lochs, lochans and rivers in the area. The first release could take place in November.

The charities have selected sites where they hope the beavers will establish a population. They plan to announce each site after releasing the animals, giving them time to settle without disturbance. NatureScot said beaver activity could “significantly improve” biodiversity in the River Ness catchment. The agency judged the landscape to carry a low risk of negative effects from the animals’ activity.

NatureScot also said the releases would extend the beavers’ current range in Scotland, a priority under the country’s beaver strategy for 2022 to 2045. Alan McDonnell, Trees for Life’s head of nature restoration, described beavers as allies in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. He thanked local people who took part in discussions about the plan. McDonnell said communities and local businesses had shown “huge interest”.