Wild beavers are set to return to the Loch Ness catchment area for the first time in 500 years after officials approved a major rewilding project in the Scottish Highlands.
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officials → set → Highlands
Scottish nature agency NatureScot has granted an official release licence to conservation charities Trees for Life and the Beaver Trust.
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NatureScot → grant → Life
Under the approved Ness Beaver Project, conservation teams will release up to 15 beaver family groups into suitable waterways across the River Ness catchment over three years.
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teams → approve → years
The first releases could begin within weeks, marking an important moment for wildlife and nature in the Scottish Highlands.
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releases → begin → Highlands
Official approval opens door for Highland release
NatureScot approved the releases after carrying out detailed environmental checks and consulting local landowners, farmers and Highland communities.
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NatureScot → open → landowners
The agency identified the Loch Ness catchment in 2022 as one of Scotland's most suitable places for beavers because of its large network of waterways that can support the animals, according to Trees for Life.
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that → identify → Life
All beavers chosen for the project will undergo strict health checks before being moved to their new homes.
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beavers → choose → homes
The first stage will focus on selected locations that are suitable for wildlife between Fort Augustus and Lochend.
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that → focus → Augustus
Jenny Bryce, beaver team manager at NatureScot, said: "Bringing beavers back to this beautiful place will be great progress for Scotland's Beaver Strategy, bringing benefits for nature, climate and people."
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Bringing → say → nature
She added: "We have assessed the monitoring and mitigation plans set out by the applicants and believe that, along with our existing Beaver Mitigation Scheme, any potential conflicts that may arise can be resolved.
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that → add → Scheme
"
Reversing five centuries of absence
Eurasian beavers were hunted to extinction in Scotland during the 16th century.
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beavers → reverse → century
Heavy hunting for their fur, meat and castoreum, a substance used in perfumes, was the main reason for their disappearance.
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hunting → use → disappearance
Their loss changed local rivers and waterways.
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loss → change → rivers
Without beavers, natural wetlands were no longer maintained in the same way.
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wetlands → maintain → way
These wetland areas had supported native fish, birds and water plants for thousands of years.
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areas → support → years
The planned releases at Loch Ness are part of Scotland's wider beaver strategy.
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releases → plan → strategy
The plan aims to bring the native animals back to suitable river catchments across the country.
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plan → aim → country
Beavers became a protected species in Scotland in 2019.
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Beavers → become → 2019
This means approved relocation can be used to manage their populations instead of killing them.
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relocation → mean → them
The return of these water-loving animals is expected to help create natural wetlands, improve water quality and slow the flow of rainwater into rivers.
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return → love → rivers
Their activities could also provide new habitats for many insects, amphibians and bird species across the Great Glen.
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activities → provide → Glen
Managing land use and local concerns
Project organisers understand that beaver activities, such as building dams and cutting down trees, can sometimes cause problems for farming and forestry.
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activities → manage → farming
For this reason, the project teams spoke with local communities before receiving official approval.
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teams → speak → approval
Trees for Life has appointed dedicated beaver management officers to work with local farmers and property owners.
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Trees → appoint → farmers
Under NatureScot's support scheme, landowners will be able to get help with problems caused by beavers.
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landowners → get → beavers
This includes protective wraps for trees, devices to control water flow and free expert advice to deal with local flooding or damage to timber.
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This → include → timber
Field teams are now completing transport plans and preparing the release sites.
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teams → complete → sites
The first beaver families are expected to be released before the end of the year.
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families → expect → year
For a closer look at how beavers can change Scottish rivers and their surrounding habitats, viewers can watch an overview of Scotland's Beaver Reintroduction Impact.
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viewers → change → Impact
The video shows the environmental changes that can happen when beavers return to Highland lochs.
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beavers → show → lochs
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