What do you know. Scotland is still trying to make up its mind. With studies like this I sure hope it takes a good long time.
Beavers Helpful Rebuilding Wetlands
A new study researched in Scotland reveals beavers’ ability to engineer desolate land into thriving wetlands.
Four beavers were re-introduced to the land and observed for a decade. The observations found that the beavers created almost 200m of dams, 500m of canals and an acre of ponds. The landscape was “almost unrecognizable” from the original field, which now includes an increase plant species of almost 50% and richly varied habitats established across the 30 acre site.
The researchers say that their study is solid evidence that beavers can be a low-cost option in restoring wetlands, an important and biodiverse habitat that has lost two-thirds of its worldwide extent since 1900.
“Wetlands also serve to store water and improve its quality – they are the ‘kidneys of the landscape’,” said Professor Nigel Willby, at Stirling University and one of the study team. Earlier research by the team showed how beaver dams can slow water flows, reducing downstream flood risk and water pollution.
Beavers build dams in order to create pools in which they can shelter from their biggest predators, besides humans. These predators are bears, wolves and wolverines. The research was published in the journal Science of the Total Environment. The site was regularly surveyed and located near Blairgowrie in Tayside where two beavers were released in 2002 and began to breed in 2006. The lifespan of beavers is 10-15 years in the wild and the average number of beavers around during the study was four.
After 12 years of habitat engineering by beaver, the study site was almost unrecognizable from its initial state,” the scientists concluded: “The reintroduction of such species may yet prove to be the missing ingredient in successful and sustainable long-term restoration of wetland landscapes.”
Well of course it was! That’s what beavers do! But go ahead and study it again just to make sure. I like reading things like this over and over. It’s like going back to the “wooing stage” of a relationship. Who doesn’t love that?
He said wetland restoration usually involves ditch blocking and mowing or grazing to maintain diversity: “Beavers offer an innovative, more hands-off, solution to the problem of wetland loss. Seeing what beavers can do for our wetlands and countryside highlights the diverse landscape we have been missing for the last 400 years.”
Now that’s what I want to hear! Of course it’s the perfect day for giving Heidi at least some of what she wants (and since Mueller doesn’t appear to be done investigating yet, Scotland will do nicely!)
Thank you to Leslie Mils our newest Worth A Dam-er for this awesome Birthday card. OF course I looked up the artist who lives in Grass Valley. I thought about hitting him up for a donation but then I saw some of his other cards like a moose saying “Nice hooters” to a pair owls and I thought maybe no? Anyway I am always very impressed when someone manages to find me a beaver card I haven’t seen before!
