Eurasian beavers are being returned to the English landscape as a native species which can restore and create wetland habitats. Beaver created habitats play an important role in restoring natural function to waterways which increases climate change resilience and ecosystem service benefits.
Beaver activity can have positive environmental and socioeconomic benefits, but it is recognised that their activities can also lead to negative impacts that need to be actively managed.
Local beaver management partnerships (beaver management groups, beaver advisory groups) are setting up around the existing beaver populations to provide advice and practical support to help beavers and people live alongside each other. Following the 5-step approach to beaver management will help resolve issues at an early stage, and thereby greatly reducing demand for beaver removal.
Environmental Land Management (ELM) funding is available for land managers to make space for beavers around waterways reducing conflicts between beavers and farm businesses, and to protect assets such as permanent crops and trees from foraging. But there are currently limited funding opportunities for beaver management partnerships.
This report explores the short-term and long-term funding approaches to support beaver management partnerships to provide on-the-ground advice and support to people learning to live alongside beavers.