UK Plans Beaver Releases Amid Farmers' Demands for Control

The UK government is set to allow the release of beavers into the wild for the first time in centuries, following their extinction over 400 years ago. Environment Secretary Steve Reed announced that nature groups could obtain licenses for these releases, with the first expected this autumn. While beavers are recognized for their positive impact on ecosystems—such as reducing flooding and improving water quality—farmers are expressing concerns about potential flooding of agricultural land and are demanding the right to lethally control beavers if necessary. The National Farmers' Union's president insists that any release plan must include provisions for culling disruptive beavers to protect farmland. Conservationists advocate for coexistence strategies to mitigate conflicts, emphasizing the importance of beavers as 'ecosystem engineers' that could benefit both nature and agriculture. The government is currently consulting with farmers and wildlife groups to develop a long-term management plan for the species.