Careful planning could be the key to ensuring new woodlands flourish in areas where beavers are making a comeback.
With Scotland aiming to expand its forests and a rising beaver population reshaping landscapes, the overlap between beaver habitats and new tree-planting projects is set to increase.
A new report from NatureScot and the Beaver Trust pulls from international case studies and Scottish research to offer practical solutions for woodland creation alongside beaver activity.
Beavers, nature’s expert engineers, typically forage within 20 metres of a waterway, favouring species such as willow, aspen, hazel, birch and rowan.
These native trees have evolved to cope with occasional flooding and can regenerate after being nibbled by beavers.
To balance conservation efforts, the report suggests prioritising these hardy species in riverside woodlands, providing beavers with ample food while reducing pressure on other trees.
This strategy has already proven successful in countries like the Czech Republic, North America and along the Danube River Basin.
Dr Jenny Bryce, NatureScot’s beaver specialist, emphasised the importance of integrating beaver activity into woodland expansion plans.
She highlighted that only 19% of Scotland’s riverbanks are currently wooded, despite their crucial role in biodiversity, shading and nutrient cycling.
Beavers naturally restore wetlands and river systems, benefiting many other species, but their tree-felling and dam-building can also alter woodland landscapes significantly.
Dr Bryce believes that with thoughtful design, beaver presence can be harnessed as a positive force for woodland health and resilience.
Dr Kelsey Wilson, lead author of the report on behalf of Beaver Trust, reinforced the ecological benefits of beavers in forest ecosystems.
By selectively felling trees, beavers open the canopy, encourage diverse plant growth and create valuable deadwood habitats essential for a vast array of wildlife.
This report, she stated, marks the beginning of a new approach to riparian woodland management that embraces beaver activity rather than attempting to control or exclude it.
The aim is to design forests that are both adaptable and ecologically robust while meeting Scotland’s ambitious tree-planting targets.
Scottish Forestry’s Land Use and Environment Policy Advisor, Linsey Mason-McLean, noted that as beaver populations grow, encounters with riparian woodlands will increase.
Scottish Forestry is committed to tackling these challenges and supporting resilient woodland creation that can coexist with beavers.
Since July 2023, enhancements to the Forestry Grant Scheme have provided increased funding for riparian planting in areas where beavers and biodiversity can thrive together.
Scotland’s approach to forestry is evolving, with an emphasis on sustainable, wildlife-friendly solutions that accommodate the natural behaviours of returning species.
With the right approach, beavers and woodlands can flourish side by side, enriching Scotland’s landscapes for generations to come.
