Back in the autumn I talked about the possibility of Beavers being reintroduced into the British ecosystem. This triggered by the BBC showing images of beavers on the Autumn watch programme. Following that I started looking at the effects of reintroductions.
It is important to distinguish between introductions, a species that is not native but is introduced either deliberately or accidentally, and generally damages the environment and eco systems. Where as a reintroduction is a species that used to be a part of the ecology but has disappeared for some reason, and is reintroduced to rebalance habitat. Locally red Kites were reintroduced as an example, and are thriving. As I write, I can see a Red Kite to the north of my Village out of my window. The impact of them back in the environment is having a real benefit. As they are predominantly carrion feeders, the Kites are removing items that previously had been attracting rats and it seems that having the kites is helping to reduce the numbers of these vermin.
Therefore, reintroductions do create a positive impact for the environment. In the case of the Red Kite it has been an unexpected reduction in the numbers of rats, as well as providing a boost to the economy via tourism. For example there is one particular pub where it’s possible to sit in the beer garden and watch these magnificent birds.
However, it is the benefits to the eco system that is most amazing. In Yellowstone National Park in America, the reintroduction of the wolf aided the habitat, and in surprising ways. One of the effects was that Aspen trees and the willows started to regenerate. This was because the wolf is the top predator and the numbers were sufficient to affect the behaviour of the Elk who were browsing on the shoots of the trees. By the wolfs being their the Elk were keeping to the open and the hills where they could observe the wolfs. That was stopping the Elk from constantly nibbling off the shoots from the trees thus allowing the trees to regenerate. Further, this benefits animals like Beavers who rely on the willow for food. Additionally, the extra ground is benefiting a whole range of other species too.
It has always been known that the presence of top predators is a good indicator of a healthy habitat. But what is a new discovery here is that just how important they are to the health of the whole chain of life in a biosphere.
With the plan to reintroduce Beavers in Scotland there will be great benefits too. At the moment conservation organisations have to invest a lot of time and money in coppicing trees at the waters edge, this the beavers will do naturally for food and to build their homes. Further, in places like Germany where they have already been reintroduced the Beavers have seriously knocked back invasive species like Himalayan Balsam that is choking out native species of plant life. Therefore, I cannot see any disadvantages to this reintroduction programme.
In addition to this reintroduction, I also understand that on another Scottish Estate a breeding pair of Elk have been reintroduced as part of a long term plan that could see another colony of Beavers reintroduced along with Wolf and Lynx. While I personally feel that this would benefit the environment, I can see objections to this and careful preparation work would need to be done, especially education. So I watch and wait.
It is important to distinguish between introductions, a species that is not native but is introduced either deliberately or accidentally, and generally damages the environment and eco systems. Where as a reintroduction is a species that used to be a part of the ecology but has disappeared for some reason, and is reintroduced to rebalance habitat. Locally red Kites were reintroduced as an example, and are thriving. As I write, I can see a Red Kite to the north of my Village out of my window. The impact of them back in the environment is having a real benefit. As they are predominantly carrion feeders, the Kites are removing items that previously had been attracting rats and it seems that having the kites is helping to reduce the numbers of these vermin.
Therefore, reintroductions do create a positive impact for the environment. In the case of the Red Kite it has been an unexpected reduction in the numbers of rats, as well as providing a boost to the economy via tourism. For example there is one particular pub where it’s possible to sit in the beer garden and watch these magnificent birds.
However, it is the benefits to the eco system that is most amazing. In Yellowstone National Park in America, the reintroduction of the wolf aided the habitat, and in surprising ways. One of the effects was that Aspen trees and the willows started to regenerate. This was because the wolf is the top predator and the numbers were sufficient to affect the behaviour of the Elk who were browsing on the shoots of the trees. By the wolfs being their the Elk were keeping to the open and the hills where they could observe the wolfs. That was stopping the Elk from constantly nibbling off the shoots from the trees thus allowing the trees to regenerate. Further, this benefits animals like Beavers who rely on the willow for food. Additionally, the extra ground is benefiting a whole range of other species too.
It has always been known that the presence of top predators is a good indicator of a healthy habitat. But what is a new discovery here is that just how important they are to the health of the whole chain of life in a biosphere.
With the plan to reintroduce Beavers in Scotland there will be great benefits too. At the moment conservation organisations have to invest a lot of time and money in coppicing trees at the waters edge, this the beavers will do naturally for food and to build their homes. Further, in places like Germany where they have already been reintroduced the Beavers have seriously knocked back invasive species like Himalayan Balsam that is choking out native species of plant life. Therefore, I cannot see any disadvantages to this reintroduction programme.
In addition to this reintroduction, I also understand that on another Scottish Estate a breeding pair of Elk have been reintroduced as part of a long term plan that could see another colony of Beavers reintroduced along with Wolf and Lynx. While I personally feel that this would benefit the environment, I can see objections to this and careful preparation work would need to be done, especially education. So I watch and wait.
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1 comment:
last year 30,000 beavers were trapped in the state of maine. I really hate the thought of them being drowned in leg hold traps. The trappers go after every one of them too..and since it is on water, there is no way to prevent them from it as it constitutes public land. Unless one owns around a pond they are in and excludes trapping from within that area-but they get most of them-beavers were here on my land ten years ago and now I rarely see fresh beaver sign. Tree
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