The Scottish Government intends to give beavers European Protected Species status in Scotland and to allow them to naturally expand their range across the country from the existing populations in Tayside and Argyll.
On 1st May 2019, the Scottish Government gave beavers European Protected Species status. Beavers will bring many ecological benefits but we also recognise that in some situations they will need to be managed to minimise impacts on other interests.
The Management Framework sets out the suite of policy, guidance and actions that we will take forward in order to achieve these aims. The Framework has been developed in consultation with the Scottish Beaver Forum (a forum of key partners representing conservation, farming, fisheries, and other interests) and will be reviewed regularly to ensure that it is effective.
There are 4 main elements to the framework as follows. The detailed documents for the framework will be published shortly:
1. Management Guidance and Policy - Information about our approach to beavers and their management. It will include the following elements:
2. Management Actions - The provision of specialist advice in situations where it is necessary to manage beavers or their activities and how we can help implement action on the ground. It will include;
3. Monitoring, Survey and Research - How we will monitor beaver populations and their impacts (positive and negative) and identify the gaps in our knowledge and research needed to fill those gaps.
4. The Benefits of Beavers - How we can promote, facilitate and demonstrate the many benefits that beavers can provide. This includes building understanding of beaver impacts on biodiversity, land-management, socio-cultural elements and ecosystem services in Scotland.
5. Minutes of the Scottish Beaver Forum:
News - New beaver strategy for Scotland (21 September 2022)
News - Beaver licensing figures published (23 May 2022)
