1. The Scottish Beaver Trial

2. o Largest rodent in Europe - can grow up to 1.4metres in length o Can live for up to 15 years o Herbivorous – only eat plants o Sharp, long front teeth for gnawing wood o Crepuscular/nocturnal – coming out at dusk and active over night What is a beaver?

3. Why bring back the beaver? o Legal - Article 22 of the EC ‘Habitats Directive’ o Benefits - public interest, wildlife tourism o Desire – most people wish to see beavers restored o Morals - a species lost through human actions o Environmental – a missing, native ‘keystone species’ in the ecology of riparian woodlands and wetlands, water quality

4. Where is the Beaver Trial? o West Scotland o Argyll and Bute o Lochgilphead area o Knapdale Forest o A variety of loch sites

5. Where is the Beaver Trial?

6. Why Knapdale? o o Ecological suitability o Working Forestry Commission forest o Natural containment o Majority of respondents supported trial o Local SNH and FCS offices o Access for field workers o Visitor facilities o Ongoing management and restoration o SAC, SSSI, NSA & SWT Wildlife Reserve

7. What is actually happening? o The Trial is a partnership between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, with the host partner Forestry Commission Scotland o The release licence was granted by the Scottish government o Animals collected from Telemark, Norway, in Autumn 2008 o Quarantined for 6 months in Devon, England o Trial period 2009 – 2014 o Review by Scottish Natural Heritage on behalf of the Scottish government

8. o Study the ecology and biology of the European beaver in the Scottish environment. Aims of the Trial

9. o Look at the effects of beaver activities on the natural and socio-economic environment.

10. o Determine the extent and impact of any increased tourism generated through the presence of beaver.

11. o Generate information during the proposed trial release that will inform potential further release of beavers at other sites with different habitat characteristics.

12. o Explore the environmental education opportunities that may arise from the trial itself and the scope for a wider programme should the trial be successful.

13. The end, any questions? www.scottishbeavers.org.uk