Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
Following an evidence review conducted by Natural Resources Wales on the state of beavers in Wales I am pleased to announce today that the Welsh Government supports moving towards the managed reintroduction of European beavers (Castor fiber) in Wales.
Beavers were once a native species in Wales, before they were hunted to extinction for their valuable pelts, castoreum and meat and to a lesser extent impacted by localised habitat loss. Often referred to as "nature's engineers," their activities, such as building dams, create ponds and wetlands which help store water and support natural flood management. Beaver dams can also contribute to improving water quality by storing sediments containing nutrients and pollutants, reducing the amounts that will be transported downstream. This in turn creates rich and diverse habitats supporting a wide variety of other species. Their ability to shape ecosystems highlights their importance as a keystone species in maintaining ecological balance. The managed reintroduction of beavers in Wales will focus on renewed coexistence where wildlife can thrive alongside human communities.
Small populations of beavers are already present in the wild in Wales but they are not recognised as a native species nor afforded legal protection. As a first step, this year I will provide an opportunity for people to make representations on the proposed legislative changes necessary to safeguard current and future populations in the wild.
Secondly, on the reintroduction of beavers - while the benefits of reintroducing beavers are well documented, I recognise that some landowners have concerns about their impact on farmland and the potential to spread disease. To address this, I have asked my officials to engage early with stakeholders to enable a range of perspectives to be heard. Further details will be announced at a later stage. This collaborative approach will help balance the ecological advantages of reintroduction and the needs and concerns of stakeholders.
My officials will also work closely with Natural Resources Wales to determine the next steps for the future of beavers in Wales.
To tackle the climate and nature emergencies, we must create resilient ecological networks that allow endangered species and habitats to thrive. Setting out our policy position on beavers in Wales further demonstrates our commitment to halting and reversing the decline in nature.