Devon
Key: Present Present in connected catchment
• Tamar Beaver Management Group Forum held on Feb 2023. Repeat meeting planned for winter 2023.
• Beaver Management Steering Group meetings scheduled for summer, autumn and winter: any issues with beavers that need to be raised – please direct to myself or Matt Holden.
• Natural England are seeking expressions of interest for CL52 beaver management licence training. This is for individuals who want to be able to modify or remove beaver dams outside their breeding season. Email beavers@devonwildlifetrust.org for details.
Photo: Mike Symes
Education
Education and awareness raising
Advice, guidance and management
Research and monitoring
Photo: Alan Puttock
A 5-step approach to managing beaver activity should be followed:
1. Engagement with beaver management groups
2. Making space for beavers to avoid the need for further actions, e.g. leaving space around a waterway for beavers to use.
3. Taking lawful mitigation actions that do not need a licence, e.g. tree protection, removing a dam that is <2 weeks old.
4. Lower-impact licensed actions, such as reducing dam height.
5. Higher-impact licensed actions that only a specially trained and licensed person can carry out, such as dam removal during the breeding season or translocation. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/beavers-protection-and-management/protection-andmanagement-of-beavers-in-england
Photo: Alan Puttock
A 5-step approach to managing beaver activity should be followed:
1. Engagement with beaver management groups
2. Making space for beavers to avoid the need for further actions, e.g. leaving space around a waterway for beavers to use.
3. Taking lawful mitigation actions that do not need a licence, e.g. tree protection, removing a dam that is <2 weeks old.
4. Lower-impact licensed actions, such as reducing dam height.
5. Higher-impact licensed actions that only a specially trained and licensed person can carry out, such as dam removal during the breeding season or translocation. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/beavers-protection-and-management/protection-andmanagement-of-beavers-in-england
Photo: Alan Puttock
£ Costs of monitoring and management
£ Loss of cropped land
£ Impacts on infrastructure
£ Loss of grazing pasture
Photo: Alan Puttock
30% reduction in flood peak flows
More opportunities for ecotourism and recreation5
Lower nitrates and suspended sediments in water downstream2,7
(av.) lowers downstream flood risk1
Reduced flood risk Improved water quality Increased biodiversity Resilience to drought
100 tonnes of carbon stored per hectare of beaver pond6
Complex wetland habitats support a range of plant and animal species3
> 1 million litres of water storage, increased downstream water supply1,4
Carbon storage
Recreation and ecotourism
Managed:
Making Space for beavers: Wetland extent:
Estimated surface water extent based on drone images captured by researchers at the University of Exeter
Wetland extent:
Modelling by University of Exeter is identifying reaches in the Otter and the Tamar where habitat for beavers limits their potential to build dams.
Engagement will be targeted at sites where ecosystem services with potential to attract funding can be maximised by beaver wetlands while potential conflicts are minimised.
Agricultural Transition Plan 2023
Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme aims to support farmers to deliver public goods and make a significant contribution to the environment:
Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)
Countryside Stewardship
Landscape Recovery
Protecting Wildlife for the Future
Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL)
England Woodland
Creation Offer (EWCO)
We are looking for information on:
• Supportive land managers in the Tamar catchment who are willing to work with us to develop these options (making space for beaver wetlands and/or making the catchment beaver ready)
• Potential partners who can provide feedback on the modelling of opportunity zones for beavers
• Potential funders who are interested in supporting beaver habitats and the ecosystem services they can deliver in the Tamar
• Developing the evidence base on ecosystem services provided by beavers.
DWT beaver team: beavers@devonwildlifetrust.org
Thank you for listening!
Further reading on licenced beaver management activities: Protection and management of beavers in England - GOV.UK (w ww.gov.uk)
Holly Barclay: hbarclay@devonwildlifetrust.org
Matt Holden: mholden@devonwildlifetrust.org
Photo: Nick Upton / www.naturepl.com
Thank you to our funders: and the Adrian Swire Charitable Trust
