Written Question · S5W-13153 · Session 5
What assessment it has carried out or plans of the potential (a) ecosystem disruption, (b) spread of disease among native species, (c) floo…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out or plans of the potential (a) ecosystem disruption, (b) spread of disease among native species, (c) flooding and adverse watercourse condition risk and (d) infrastructure damage as a result of the recent establishment of beaver populations.
The answer
Assessments have been carried out as follows.
Ecosystem disruption
To assess the potential disruption to the ecosystem by beavers, Scottish Natural Heritage assessed the potential interaction between beavers and ecosystems on Tayside and Knapdale and habitat which may be occupied by beavers in the future. This is reported in Chapters 3.4.1 to 3.4.10 of the Beaver in Scotland report published in June 2015 and available at the following link http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/research/Beavers%20in%20Scotland%20-%20Final%20-%2010%20June%202015.pdf.
This assessment was further updated through the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), published by the Scottish Government on 12 December 2017, which is available at this link http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/12/7354. This assessed the likely impacts to protected habitats and species from the two current beaver populations as well as an element of range expansion.
These assessments looked at the potential for positive and negative effects, including whether and how mitigation could be used to avoid or minimise the potential for disruption to the ecological function of key habitats and their species.
Spread of disease among native species
SNH assessed the likely implications to public and animal health associated with the beaver populations at Knapdale and Tayside and considered any implications for wider expansion across Scotland. This is reported in Chapter 4.6 pages 142 -146 of the Beavers in Scotland report and in the SEA.
Flooding and adverse watercourse condition risk, and infrastructure damage as a result of the recent establishment of beaver populations
Chapter 4 of the Beaver in Scotland report assesses the likely flooding and adverse watercourse condition risk and infrastructure damage. Thisincludes a summary of experience prior to 2015 of beaver and impacts on forestry, agriculture and infrastructure/general land use. Chapter 3.4.2 and 3.4.3 assessed potential for changes to water chemistry. The SEA and the Tayside Beaver Study Group final report (2015) updated this and included findings of recent cases where beavers had been cited as having an impact on material assets, flooding and arable farmland.
Ecosystem disruption
To assess the potential disruption to the ecosystem by beavers, Scottish Natural Heritage assessed the potential interaction between beavers and ecosystems on Tayside and Knapdale and habitat which may be occupied by beavers in the future. This is reported in Chapters 3.4.1 to 3.4.10 of the Beaver in Scotland report published in June 2015 and available at the following link http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/research/Beavers%20in%20Scotland%20-%20Final%20-%2010%20June%202015.pdf.
This assessment was further updated through the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), published by the Scottish Government on 12 December 2017, which is available at this link http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/12/7354. This assessed the likely impacts to protected habitats and species from the two current beaver populations as well as an element of range expansion.
These assessments looked at the potential for positive and negative effects, including whether and how mitigation could be used to avoid or minimise the potential for disruption to the ecological function of key habitats and their species.
Spread of disease among native species
SNH assessed the likely implications to public and animal health associated with the beaver populations at Knapdale and Tayside and considered any implications for wider expansion across Scotland. This is reported in Chapter 4.6 pages 142 -146 of the Beavers in Scotland report and in the SEA.
Flooding and adverse watercourse condition risk, and infrastructure damage as a result of the recent establishment of beaver populations
Chapter 4 of the Beaver in Scotland report assesses the likely flooding and adverse watercourse condition risk and infrastructure damage. Thisincludes a summary of experience prior to 2015 of beaver and impacts on forestry, agriculture and infrastructure/general land use. Chapter 3.4.2 and 3.4.3 assessed potential for changes to water chemistry. The SEA and the Tayside Beaver Study Group final report (2015) updated this and included findings of recent cases where beavers had been cited as having an impact on material assets, flooding and arable farmland.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S5W-13153 by reference.