Beavers to be introduced at Tay Forest Park in Perthshire to boost species numbers

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Rural parts of Highland Perthshire are set to see beavers introduced in attempts to boost population numbers.Up to four families of beavers will be released on land in Tay Forest Park, as well as Knapdale Forest in Argyll.The park consists of a network of forests managed by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and covers 194 km², from Dunkeld, to Killiecrankie, to Kinloch Rannoch.NatureScot recently approved a licence application from FLS for the project.The application was submitted in August and was assessed in line with the Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations.The proposed release sites were assessed as “highly suitable” with a “low risk” of beaver-human conflict.NatureScot concluded that releasing beavers in these locations would strengthen the local beaver populations and “retain genetic diversity” within the Scottish beaver population as well as providing local biodiversity benefits.The beavers will be trapped and taken under licence from areas where they are having a “serious negative impact” on agricultural land and where mitigation measures have not been successful or are not possible.It is thought no ‘official’ beavers live in the park at present but FLS said all potenial sites being considered are close to established beaver populations in the wider area.Donald Fraser, NatureScot head of wildlife management, said: “Beavers are ecosystem engineers, creating habitats such as ponds and wetlands where other species thrive, as well as moderating water flows and improving water quality.“In doing so, they play an important role in helping to restore biodiversity and respond to the climate emergency in Scotland.“All of these sites are within the current beaver distribution range and have been assessed as highly