SBAG Scottish Beaver Advisory Group Meeting - 14th June 2023

Attendees:

• Chair:Hugh Dignon (Scottish Government)
• Doreen Bell (Scottish Water)
• Jenny Bryce (NatureScot)
• Hazel Forrest (representing Scottish Environment Link)
• Jonathan Willet (representing the National Parks)
• Alan McDonnell (representing Scottish Rewilding Alliance)
• Kate Maitland (National Farmers Union Scotland)
• Scot Mathieson (Scottish Environment Protection Agency)
• Nadia Flaherty (Scottish Land & Estates)
• Helen Taylor (Royal Zoological Society of Scotland)
• Juli Titherington (Scottish Forestry)
• Alan Wells (Fisheries Management Scotland)
• Rachel Helliwell (Centre of Expertise for Waters);
• Kenny Kortland (Forestry and Land Scotland)
• Roisin Campbell Palmer (Beaver Trust)

Apologies: Donald Fraser (NatureScot), Sarah Henshall (Cairngorms National Park Authority).

1. Minutes of previous meeting 18^th January and matters arising

AP1 – SLE and NFUS, who had advocated an independent chair, were to check their position with regards the proposed NatureScot chair, with their respective organisations. Overtaken.

There group sought further discussion of the definition of an independent chair. It was agreed that independence involved taking an impartial view, rather than necessarily organisational affiliation and hence the role could be carried out by a NatureScot Board member. NatureScot proposed a current Board member that had very recently been asked and agreed to take on this role. SBAG members would have liked advance notice of the proposal and requested time to consider.

New AP1 The term independent chair to be retained in the group’s ToR and for members (present and not present at the meeting) to advise NatureScot if they do not agree with NatureScot’s proposal for chair.

AP2 – NatureScot to make two amendments to the ToR (Communications section) to include these ways of working and to clarify the role of the Chair; and to recirculate the amended ToR. Discharged subject to retaining the word independent as above.

AP3 – NatureScot to follow up on a COSLA representative. Discharged. Catherine Damen (Policy Officer – Environment and Economy) has been nominated to represent COSLA.

AP4 – All to review the translocation guidance and make suggestions where additional guidance is required. Comments were received from Scottish Rewilding Alliance. Discharged.

AP 5 – NatureScot to produce a spreadsheet of Scotland’s Beaver Strategy goals, actions and status and cross reference this with the suggested priorities above. Discharged - On agenda item 3.

AP 6 - NatureScot to circulate the ToR for the technical sub-groups from the Scottish Beaver Forum. NatureScot will revisit the ToR and consider whether they should be reconvened or reformulated as task and end groups. The addition of a research group was an action in the strategy. Discharged – on agenda item 4.

AP7 – FMS to prepare a draft remit for a beaver- fish working group – Discharged. On agenda  - item 4.

AP8 - Doodle poll to be circulated for meeting dates for remainder of year. Discharged. Future meetings scheduled for 17^th August and 26^th October.

2. Beaver Management Report for 2022

NatureScot had published the report for 2022 the previous week and not all members had yet had the opportunity to read it.

• News: Report finds more beavers moved as population continues to expand
• Report: Beaver Management Report for 2022

There was discussion regarding the lack of carcasses from licenced control being provided for post mortem. The health and safety considerations of controllers in retrieving carcasses in some situations was acknowledged, but that it should be possible to retrieve a proportion of them in smaller ditches/ where shot on the bank/at a dam. It was agreed that it was important to evidence that where control is necessary, that it is being done well and that land managing organisations reflect this message to their membership.

NatureScot had also recently published Environmental Reports (SEA) for the River Spey and River Beauly catchments and that both reports are currently open to public consultation (until 28^th July).

NatureScot assessment of environmental effects of beaver translocations into new catchments

3. National Beaver Strategy reporting

NatureScot had provided a high level reporting template based on the nine goals in Scotland’s Beaver Strategy as had been agreed at the last meeting. It was asked if the group were content with this level of reporting as providing oversight of Strategy delivery. Members generally reflected that they wanted to see more detail of the (88) actions and responsibility for them. Responsibility for updating the reporting will sit with the named lead.

The group expressed a preference that the reporting should be

• A live document, updated ‘as an when’ rather than subject to set periodic updates.
• Reporting should be shared by members – facilitated by a ‘shared’ file.
• Reporting should be publically shared, for example as an annual report.

It was noted that the IUCN Conservation Planning Specialist Group who facilitated the Strategy development advise a full review after 5 years.

It was also noted that much of the lead for the actions and the reporting was sitting with NatureScot.

New AP 2 NatureScot to revise the reporting template to include more detail and host it on a shared file and circulate to members.

4. SBAG Sub-groups

A paper had been circulated recommending four sub-groups of SBAG be established.

1. Riparian Woodland
2. Fish and fisheries
3. Research and Innovation and
4. Communications.

There was support for these groups being established.

• A riparian woodland sub-group had been set up under the Scottish Beaver Forum, but would be re-established allowing the membership, aims and ToR to be reviewed. Scottish Forestry indicated they were willing to scope this with others and what resources this would require. SEPA, CREW and Confor were mentioned as potential members, with FMS in place of TDSF given the wider remit.
• FMS had drafted a ToR for a fish and fisheries group and have identified potential members. It is proposed that FMS co-ordinate an initial meeting and that a Chair is identified from within the membership.
• No Chairs have as yet been identified for the Research and Innovation or the Comms sub-groups, hence NatureScot will initially seek to move these forward, but it is hoped that a Chair/lead can be identified from within the sub-group membership.
• It was noted that CNPA have been reviewing educational resources and could contribute this to the Comms Group.
• Some other suggestions of sub-group representation from within the membership were noted.

New AP3 FMS and Scottish Forestry to initiate a first meeting of their respective sub-groups. NatureScot staff can offer some support with contacts and secretariat.

New AP 4 NatureScot to initiate a first meeting of the Research and Innovation and Comms sub-groups, to refine the ToR and identify roles and responsibilities.

5. Updates – ALL

Forestry and Land Scotland - have reviewed the suitability of land on the NFE for beavers and some areas that had initially looked promising had proved not to host extensive habitat. However, they hoped to be in a position to received beavers from Autumn 2023 with a focus on ‘within range’ sites and are working with TFL on a proposal for Glen Affric.

Trees for Life - are continuing engagement in Glen Affric and are co-developing a monitoring plan with the community and seeking to establish a community group that could be involved in management issues post-release. They hope to recruit a project officer shortly to help support the monitoring. The application will now focus on the upper Affric sub-catchment.

Beaver Trust - noted there is interest from other land managers in submitting applications for beaver release including NTS. BT staff are gearing up for trapping for August. Beaver Trust hope to publish further health screening results shortly.  Beaver Trust are working with a consultant and NatureScot on assessing impacts on riparian woodland creation and providing recommendations for integrating beavers and woodland creation.

Cairngorms National Park Authority – Have hosted four drop in sessions within the park with 80+ people attending. Responses have been largely positive. A site suitability report has identified suitable sites for releases and sites for potential future releases; where habitat improvements could increase their suitability for beaver. A six week formal engagement programme is planned for August/September with a further six public events planned in the catchment; including three sector specific sessions. This would potentially allow for an application in the autumn and if approved, a late autumn release.

The group had some discussion around future catchments for consideration; noting the process is resource intensive for NatureScot, applicants and consultees alike. NatureScot confirmed that no further catchments had yet been identified for environmental assessment, but are aware of other existing interest.

National Farmers Union, Scotland

• Noted concern about the projected number of beavers quoted in the BMR and the impacts this will  bring on a wider range of public interests.

• Noted farmers had received personal threats, which the group agreed was unacceptable and should be reported to the Police. Farmers should be able to express their dissatisfaction with beavers without fear of retribution.
• Asked NatureScot for an update on the water gate trials. Naturescot confirmed that fencing had gone in for one gate, and that the water gate itself was subject to an agreement with Scottish Water who own the existing structure at the location to which the gate would be fixed. The decision to proceed with water gates at the other two trial locations are still subject to survey for fish populations and thereafter quotes.

Environment LINK

• Raised new catchments and the priority being given to them - would generally like to see more sites being unlocked for beaver release. NatureScot confirmed no further catchments have been identified but the spatial analysis (and dataset available as a spreadsheet) as part of the 2022 Addendum was intended to inform suitability -https://www.nature.scot/doc/beavers-scotland-environmental-report-addendum-2022
• Sought more engagement with communities to prepare them for beavers arriving both naturally and by translocations – with a potential for eNGOs to help here. Suggested link to Comms sub-group.
• Sought more engagement with landowners that could be willing to host beavers. There are existing expressions of interest and NatureScot is happy to answer pre-application enquiries.
• Noted the number of dams being removed in the BMR. It was noted that alternatives are considered as part of the licensing process.
• Asked about NatureScot’s response to the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission published a report in December 2022. NatureScot confirmed they have responded.

SLE –

• Noted the unhappiness amongst members at being asked to complete an application form for new/licence renewals. Members felt they had not been consulted.

NatureScot had met with SLE and NFUS on 25^th April 2023 in advance of the changes to licensing arrangements and had explained the upcoming changes. Applications are being requested to provide details of impacts/risks to ensure that licensing decisions are based on up to date information.

• Members are seeking a fully funded mitigation scheme.

The Chair suggested we return to mitigation at a future meeting.

6. AOB

It was noted group members had been disappointed by the postponement of the planned meeting in April, to allow more time for preparation for the meeting by NatureScot staff who were engaged in other priority work. It was also requested that papers are circulated further in advance of meetings, it was suggested 2 weeks, and that meetings could follow a set agenda with AOB.

There was some discussion of the figure quoted in the Beaver Management Report, that there could be 10,000 beavers in Scotland by 2030. Some caution was noted around the figure which is an extrapolation based on European average family sizes; that populations in new catchments would grow more slowly and that the population in Tayside would start to reach some limits. This was noted, the more general point being we can expect more beavers in more places in the coming years. It was noted this may bring them into contact with more people in more populous areas.

DONM 17^th August.

Summary of outstanding and new Actions

New AP1 The term independent chair to be retained in the group’s ToR and for members (present and not present at the meeting) to advise NatureScot if they do not agree with NatureScot’s proposal for chair.

New AP 2 NatureScot to revise the reporting template to include more detail and host it on a shared file and circulate to members.

New AP3 FMS and Scottish Forestry to initiate a first meeting of their respective sub-groups. NatureScot staff can offer some support with contacts and secretariat.

New AP 4 NatureScot to initiate a first meeting of the Research and Innovation and Comms sub-groups, to refine the ToR and identify roles and responsibilities.