58919 Welsh Beaver Report:Layout 1 16/7/12 11:31 Page 1 58919 Welsh Beaver Report:Layout 1 16/7/12 11:31 Page 2 This page left intentionally blank 58919 Welsh Beaver Report:Layout 1 16/7/12 11:31 Page 3 PROJECT DETAILS Welsh Beaver Assessment Initiative The Welsh Beaver Assessment Initiative (WBAI) is investigating the feasibility of reintroducing European (or Eurasian) beaver (Castor fiber) to Wales. This WBAI study has been led by the Wildlife Trusts Wales and has been funded by the Countryside Council for Wales, People’s Trust for Endangered Species, Environment Agency Wales, Wild Europe Initiative, Wildlife Trusts Wales and Welsh Power Ltd. Project Management Group The management group has included: Toby Aykroyd (Wild Europe Initiative), Julian Branscombe (Gwent Wildlife Trust), Derek Gow (Derek Gow Consultants), Liz Halliwell (Countryside Council for Wales), Derek Moore OBE, Rob Parry (Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales), Rob Strachan (Environment Agency Wales), Dave Thorpe (Environment Agency Wales), Mark Potter (Environment Agency Wales ), Mike Jenkins (Environment Agency Wales), Chris Tucker (Forestry Commission Wales), John Turner (Countryside Council for Wales) and Tristan Hatton-Ellis (Wales Biodiversity Partnership Freshwater Ecosystem Group). Project Coordinator Adrian Lloyd Jones (North Wales Wildlife Trust). Ecological Contractors Sarah Chesworth, Chris Hall, Jane Walsh, Rob Parry, Derek Gow, Duncan Halley. Acknowledgements This project has been undertaken with help from many people. We warmly thank David Parker (Countryside Council for Wales), Mike Willis (Countryside Council for Wales), Duncan Halley (Norwegian Institute for Nature Research), Gerhard Schwab (The Bund Naturschutz in Bayern e.V.), Simon Jones (Scottish Wildlife Trust), Simon Milne (Scottish Wildlife Trust), Tony Mitchell-Jones (Natural England), Geraint Hughes (Environment Agency Wales), Jonathon Rothwell (Countryside Council for Wales), Lynn Hughes (Welsh Salmon and Trout Angling Association), Paul Culyer (Countryside Council for Wales), Bryony Coles (University of Exeter), Ian Sargent, Jill Nelson (Peoples Trust for Endangered Species), Charlie Wilson (Natural England), Mark Robinson (British Waterways), Ruraidh Campbell (WildCRU), Martin Gaywood (Scottish Natural Heritage), Frank Jones (Afonydd Cymru), Lin Cummins (Antennae Creative) and Welsh Power Ltd. Publication information: Jones, A.C.L., Halley, D.J., Gow, D., Branscombe, J., Aykroyd. T. (2012). Welsh Beaver Assessment Initiative Report: An investigation into the feasibility of reintroducing European Beaver (Castor fiber) to Wales. Wildlife Trusts Wales, UK. 58919 Welsh Beaver Report:Layout 1 16/7/12 11:31 Page 4 This page left intentionally blank 58919 Welsh Beaver Report:Layout 1 16/7/12 11:31 Page 5 CONTENTS CRYNODEB GWEITHREDOL / EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................1 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 BEAVER REINTRODUCTION – A DEFINITION ........................................................................................ 7 1.2 REASONS FOR BEAVER REINTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 7 1.3 THE WELSH BEAVER ASSESSMENT INITIATIVE ..................................................................................... 9 2. BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................................................... 10 2.1 HISTORY ............................................................................................................................................................ 10 2.2 BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY ............................................................................................................................ 10 2.2.1 Biology ............................................................................................................................................. 10 2.2.2 Lifestyle ............................................................................................................................................ 11 2.2.3 Feeding ............................................................................................................................................ 12 2.2.4 Dams & Canals ............................................................................................................................. 13 2.2.5 Population dynamics .................................................................................................................. 16 2.2.6 Spatial dispersal patterns .......................................................................................................... 16 2.2.7 Predation ......................................................................................................................................... 17 3. LIKELY EFFECTS OF BEAVER REINTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 18 3.1 HYDROLOGY, GEOMORPHOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY ....................................................................... 18 3.2 BIODIVERSITY ................................................................................................................................................. 19 3.2.1 Flora .................................................................................................................................................. 19 3.2.2 Invertebrates .................................................................................................................................. 21 3.2.3 Fish and fisheries ......................................................................................................................... 21 3.2.4 Amphibians & reptiles ............................................................................................................... 29 3.2.5 Birds ................................................................................................................................................. 30 3.2.6 Mammals ........................................................................................................................................ 30 3.2.7 Invasive non-native species ....................................................................................................... 31 3.3 LAND-USE ........................................................................................................................................................ 34 3.3.1 Agriculture ..................................................................................................................................... 34 3.3.2 Forestry ............................................................................................................................................ 36 3.3.3 Road and rail infrastructure ..................................................................................................... 37 3.3.4 Canal infrastructure .................................................................................................................... 38 3.3.5 Water industry infrastructure ................................................................................................... 38 3.3.6 Flood defences .............................................................................................................................. 39 3.3.7 Recreation ...................................................................................................................................... 40 3.3.8 Landowners ................................................................................................................................... 40 3.4 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EFFECTS .......................................................................................................... 41 3.5 DISEASE ............................................................................................................................................................ 43 4. HABITAT SURVEYS ................................................................................................................................................... 45 4.1 PRELIMINARY GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) STUDY ..................................... 45 4.2 1st-PHASE CATCHMENT SURVEY SUMMARY .................................................................................... 46 4.3 2nd-PHASE CATCHMENT SURVEY SUMMARY .................................................................................. 49 58919 Welsh Beaver Report:Layout 1 16/7/12 11:31 Page 6 5. STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION AND FACT-FINDING .............................................................................. 54 5.1 OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................................................ 54 5.2. ORGANISATIONS CONTACTED DURING CONSULTATION ............................................................. 54 5.3 OUTCOMES OF STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION ............................................................................... 55 5.4 FACT-FINDING VISITS ................................................................................................................................... 55 5.5 OTHER CONSIDERATIONS ........................................................................................................................