FORESTRY COMMISSION: REBUILDING BIODIVERSITY THROUGH BEAVERS

THE AIM OF THIS PROJECT IS TO USE EURASIAN BEAVERS (CASTOR FIBER) TO RESTORE THE BIODIVERSITY AND HYDROLOGY OF THE UPPER REACHES OF THE GREATHOUGH BROOK ABOVE THE VILLAGE OF LYDBROOK IN THE FOREST OF DEAN.

THE FAMILY GROUP OF BEAVERS WILL BE ENCLOSED IN A 6.5 HECTARE AREA OF NATURAL RIPARIAN AND WOODLAND HABITAT ALONG A 940 METRE LENGTH OF THE GREATHOUGH BROOK.

BEAVER ARE KEYSTONE SPECIES, WELL KNOWN FOR THEIR ABILITY TO CHANGE HABITATS THROUGH THEIR DAM BUILDING BEHAVIOUR AND THROUGH NATURALLY COPPICING TREES AND SHRUBS. THE WETLANDS ASSOCIATED WITH BEAVERS SUPPORT A RICH VARIETY OF HABITATS AND A WEALTH OF ASSOCIATED WILDLIFE.

EVIDENCE ALSO SUGGESTS THAT BEAVERS CAN HAVE A PROFOUND INFLUENCE ON BOTH WATER FLOWS AND WATER POLLUTION. THERE IS CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IN THE POTENTIAL FOR BEAVERS TO INFLUENCE THE ENVIRONMENT AND HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE PROVISION OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES SUCH AS FLOOD MITIGATION.