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Why are Beavers Ecosystem Engineers?

Why are beavers ecosystem engineers?

Beavers are some of the world’s most skilled ecosystem engineers, with an incredible ability to create new wetlands, restore native woodland, and improve habitats for a wide range of species. They are a ‘keystone’ species of wetland habitats, meaning that are wide array of other species, from fish and frogs; to insects and birds, are impacted by their presence in the ecosystem. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/06/englands-first-wild-beavers-for-400-years-allowed-to-live-on-river-otter">In August 2020</a>, the first beavers to live in England for centuries were given official permission by the government to remain in their home in Devon after a five-year reintroduction trial. This was the first legally sanctioned reintroduction of an extinct native mammal to England. 
Beavers were once native to the UK, and were widespread across the whole of Europe. However they were <a href="https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/saving-species/beavers">hunted to extinction</a> in the UK in the early 1500s and by the end of the 19th century only a few groups remained in Europe. This is because they were good to eat, easy to catch, and they had dense, soft fur that was great for making clothes and hats. In addition, beaver glands contain salicylic acid from their willow diet, which was once prized as a medical cure-all. A single beaver gland could be the same as an <a href="https://beavertrust.org/index.php/beavers-create-healthy-rivers-for-wildlife-and-people/#beaverbasics">entire year’s wages</a> for a medieval worker. 
Beavers used to be an integral part of our landscape, however they were pushed to extinction by human activity. With the loss of a species comes the loss of balance within the ecosystem, ultimately resulting in a more vulnerable, less resilient, environment. As climate change brings more extreme weather, our river systems have become more restricted and we are facing a biodiversity crisis. In recent years the value of beavers as ecosystem engineers, and as a potential solution to some of our problems, has been recognised, and they have been brought back from the brink with reintroduction schemes in <a href="https://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/what-we-do/our-conservation-work/on-land/cornwall-beaver-project">27 European countries.</a>

Beavers are natural ecosystem engineers. They change the habitats that they live in by digging canal systems, damming water courses, and coppicing trees and shrubs. This creates diverse wetland habitats that bring enormous benefits to other species, such as otters, water shrews, water voles, birds, dragonflies, and breeding fish. They have an extraordinary ability to restore degraded habitats, transforming small insignificant streams into cascading mosaics of dams, pools and wetlands. These habitats: 
Alleviate flooding 
By creating dams, channels and wetland habitats, beavers increase the capacity of the land to store water and to produce a more consistent outflow below their dams. These habitats hold back water and release it more slowly after storms or heavy rain, reducing the height of flood peaks. Water being released more slowly also improves low flows during dry periods as water leaking from the dams recharges dry streams, improving water availability during times of drought. 
Boost biodiversity
Beavers create diverse wetland habitats that provide a home for a wide range of wildlife. They also fell trees and bushes, which diversifies the surrounding habitat and, as the trees start to grow back, creates areas of mixed-height, mixed-age vegetation, which is brilliant for encouraging a wide range of species to live there.
Improve water quality 
Beaver dams slow and filter water, causing sediment and nutrients to be deposited in ponds. This improves the quality of water flowing from sites where beavers are present. 
Engage the Community 
People are fascinated by beavers. The presence of beavers in an area provides an opportunity for people to engage with wildlife and conservation efforts, as well as creating a market for nature tourism in some places.

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The capabilities and benefits that beavers bring to local areas have led to the instigation of new projects over the past 10 years to encourage the return of beavers to specific enclosed sites in the UK including Devon, Cornwall and Scotland.

The first beaver reintroduction trial in the UK took place in Scotland. <a href="https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2018-11/181023%20Beaver%20Brochure_WEB.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In 2009, the Scottish Wildlife Trust</a> released the first wild beavers for over 400 years, in Knapdale Forest, Argyll. Beavers temporarily increased the water storage in the larger lochs. This caused the elevation and stabilisation of water levels in small lochs which reduced the impact of flooding downstream. The most striking effect was seen in a small pond, Dubh loch, in which a dam caused a <a href="https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2018-11/181023%20Beaver%20Brochure_WEB.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rise in water level of 1.1m</a>, reducing the rate of water flow out of the pond and alleviating flooding of the local area. The beavers also greatly increased the habitat diversity of the site, providing more niches for different species.  
The findings of this project were so successful that they persuaded the Scottish Government to allow beavers to remain, and commit to granting the species a legal protected status. In October 2017, a three-year reinforcement project began, with the release of three more beavers into Knapdale Forest and further releases in spring 2018.

<a href="https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2018-11/181023%20Beaver%20Brochure_WEB.pdf">In 2011, the Devon Wildlife Trust</a> introduced one beaver family group to a 3-hectare enclosed area of land in West Devon. They are working with the University of Exeter to monitor the effects of beavers on the habitats, and so far have found that: 
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The habitats created store a massive<a href="https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2018-11/181023%20Beaver%20Brochure_WEB.pdf"> 56 litres of water per m2</a> of land. This has the potential to significantly reduce the impact of flooding downstream. Beavers have constructed 13 dams within the area of the project, meaning that the land will now hold up to <a href="https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2018-11/181023%20Beaver%20Brochure_WEB.pdf">one million extra litres of water</a>.</li>
</ul>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">During storms and heavy rainfall, peak flows were, on average, <a href="https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2018-11/181023%20Beaver%20Brochure_WEB.pdf">30% lower</a> leaving the site than entering. </li>
</ul>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">During storm events each litre of surface water leaving the site had <a href="https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2018-11/181023%20Beaver%20Brochure_WEB.pdf">three times less sediment</a> than the water entering the site.</li>
</ul>
The diversity of both plants and invertebrates increased, with the number of beetle species more than tripling since the beavers were introduced. This increase in prey has led to more species of bats being recorded, including rare species such as <a href="https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/mammals/barbastelle-bat">Barbastelle bats</a>.

<a href="https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2018-11/181023%20Beaver%20Brochure_WEB.pdf">In June 2017,</a> two beavers were released into a 5-acre area of plantation woodland along Nankilly water, a stream at Woodland Valley Farm, near Ladock. The Nina Constable Media documentary ‘<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeOmBbLwPm4">Cornwall beaver project: the story so far</a>’ shows the phenomenal impact these beavers have already had. Data pre-beavers and post-beavers shows that just eight weeks after being introduced to the site, the beavers constructed four dams, the water level of the main pond rose by 70cm, and the flow gauge downstream of the site recorded a reduction in peak flow. This meant that the beaver dams were slowing down the flow of water through the site after heavy rainfall. 
The landscape is still evolving as new dams are constructed and existing ones are extended, holding water and slowing down the flow. Where it once took 15 minutes for water to flow through the site; it now takes an hour. There is great public support for this project: weekly ‘beaver watches’ help people to engage with the wildlife and raise funds, <a href="https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2018-11/181023%20Beaver%20Brochure_WEB.pdf">over 1000 people</a> have visited the site so far, and the farm has seen increased bookings for residential stays by schools, colleges and universities.

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Despite this myriad of benefits, beaver reintroductions can be met with resistance. There are sometimes concerns from farmers and fishermen about the impact that beavers will have on their livelihoods. Some of these concerns are valid, but if they are addressed with proper management strategies, they don’t need to cause an issue.  
Most schemes across the UK are in infancy, but in Bavaria beavers were reintroduced in the 1960s and are now having impacts on a large scale. In<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4Mmjm22GiY"> ‘Beavers without borders: a short documentary’</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C211b0nTwro&amp;t=1s">‘Living with beavers’</a>, both documentaries by Nina Constable, they looked to these trials in Bavaria to see what impacts beavers are capable of, and how humans have managed any negative effects. When beavers were first introduced to the area, their benefits quickly became clear and biodiversity flourished, with more dragonflies, fish and amphibians recorded, and even sightings of the rare black stork. 
However as the beaver populations grew, they started to move out of the rivers and into the agricultural lands. They inflicted small amounts of damage on fields, eating crops and flooding small areas and creating burrows which damaged farm machinery. There started to be some resistance against the beaver populations and in <a href="https://www.nature.scot/sites/default/files/2017-07/Publication%202015%20-%20SNH%20Commissioned%20Report%20812%20-%20Managing%20wild%20Eurasian%20beavers%20a%20review%20of%20European%20management%20practices%20with%20consideration%20for%20Scottish%20application.pdf">1996 </a>management strategies were devised to address these concerns. 
Farmers now get compensation for any damage and beavers can be caught or controlled if they are in the wrong place. They have also set up ‘set-asides’ in creeks in many areas, an area 5-10m to the right and left of the creek that is left for the beavers and nature to work, and have human land use 20m away. There is also a network of volunteer beaver consultants that give free advice to people who live near beavers or have beavers on their land. 
In the UK we can learn from these projects, and implement management strategies from the start. It’s important to listen and address people’s concerns, so that communities can support these necessary projects. The problems can be addressed and overcome, but the benefits of beavers cannot be imitated. Some of the management options that we have available to address any conflicts include: 
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Flow devices – This involves putting a pipe through the dam which allows you to regulate the water level behind it.  </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Protecting trees- either put a mesh guard around the tree or paint a special paint substance on it which beavers don’t like.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Compensation and funding – providing compensation for damage, or funding to come up with innovative strategies such as building clay banks to redirect water away from farmers&#8217; fields. </li>
</ul>
Another key area of concern is how beaver introductions affect fish populations, with some people worrying that beaver dams create barriers for migrating fish such as salmon and trout. However these concerns are often unfounded.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4Mmjm22GiY"> 70% of the world’s atlantic salmon</a> spawn in Norway, and of their top 10 salmon rivers, seven of them have beavers. Beavers do change the landscape considerably so they can have significant impacts on fish populations. However an <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-2979.2011.00421.x">independent review</a> of the interaction between beaver activity and freshwater fisheries found that benefits were cited more frequently than costs, and the majority of experts consider beavers to have an overall positive impact on fish populations.

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Beavers have an awe-inspiring ability to modify their environments for the better, and bring life back to the areas in which they live. Allowing the widespread return of beavers is an important step in starting to repair some of the damage we have done to our natural world. They have the potential to provide a natural and cost-effective solution to the serious issues of flooding, pollution, and species loss within the UK. Because beavers are so unique as ecosystem engineers, this isn’t just about the reintroduction of a species but about the reintroduction of an entire ecosystem. By boosting biodiversity, reducing the impact of floods and droughts, and creating spaces for nature to return, beavers could be a great ally in our fight against the climate crisis.
If you enjoyed this article and want to get involved – read our article on <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/how-does-deforestation-impact-wildlife-and-biodiversity-what-you-need-to-know">how deforestation is impacting wildlife</a>.
<a href="https://ecologi.com/plan"> Sign up to Ecologi</a> to support reforestation and climate action projects that help to protect biodiversity!

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Hopescrolling: The good news timeline

It’s not all bad. While there’s a lot of negative news about the climate, let’s not forget the good stuff. Find climate wins, reasons to be hopeful and plenty of positivity in our good news timeline.

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Just as we make sure all our reforestation projects are designed in a way that is most beneficial to our planet, our other terrestrial restoration projects need to be of the highest quality too. Wildflower, Wetlands and Wildlife projects have the potential to provide vital support to a wide array of species, boosting local, national and international biodiversity, as well as being an important and secure carbon store. But for these benefits to come to fruition the projects must be implemented properly, in line with best practices.
We know you might have some questions about this new type of project, so we’ve put together answers to some FAQs to help you learn more about our Wildflower, Wetlands and Wildlife project.

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Before and after: See how your climate action is making a difference

Before and after: This is how your Ecologi impact is transforming landscapes and lives.

We love a before and after shot at Ecologi. They&#8217;re an incredible way to show the impact of the projects supported by our community. Whether it’s deforested land turning back to verdant green, or solar projects springing to life, sometimes two simple images are worth a thousand words.
On this blog you’ll find snapshot images that paint pictures of the difference our supported climate projects are making, all around the world. Thank you to our community for making it all possible! 
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📍 Location: Ouarzazate, Morocco
⌛ Dates: 2015 –2020
🌱 Project: Verified Carbon Standard
🌳 Type: Solar energy

Morocco

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From a bare area of desert to a haven of clean energy. The Ouarzazate II solar project is a major milestone in Morocco&#8217;s journey towards a clean energy future. It is one of the largest concentrated solar power plants in the world and is expected to supply around 500 GWh per year to Morocco’s power grid.
The project uses thousands of concave mirrors to concentrate solar energy and generate electricity, which can be stored for up to 7 hours. This allows the project to continue generating electricity even after the sun sets.
The Ouarzazate II solar project supplies electricity to nearly 2 million Moroccans and will prevent emissions equivalent to 300,544 tCO2e per year over its 10 year crediting period. The project has also created around 7,000 local jobs and incorporated co-projects that promote the creation of cooperatives, educational opportunities, and skills training.
Learn more about this<a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/morocco-solar"> project</a>.

📍 Location: Brodoclea, North Ayrshire, Scotland
⌛ Dates: 2018 –2021
🌱 Project: Future Forest Company
🌳 Type: Temperate reforestation

Scotland

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Nestled in North Ayrshire, Brodoclea is a sprawling 174-hectare haven of broadleaf woodland that plays host to woolly pigs, the incredible ecological restoration engineers! 
Under <a href="https://thefutureforestcompany.com/">The Future Forest Company</a>&#8216;s guidance, these pigs awaken the soil seed bank, nourish soil microbiology, create space for sapling growth, reduce competition, and form pondlets for breeding amphibians and invertebrates. This enriches the ecosystem, offering sustenance for birds and materials for nests. 
Since 2018, the Ecologi community has helped make a significant impact on this site, funding the planting of 56,170 trees, with a focus on native broadleaf species including oak and birch, creating important habitat for local invertebrate and bird species.

📍 Location: Belavenika, Madagascar.
⌛ Dates: 2019 –2022
🌱 Project: Eden Reforestation Projects
🌳 Type: Mangrove reforestation

Madagascar

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Madagascar’s mangroves are amazing habitats that, sadly, have been deforested over the years and become degraded. This project is one of three currently being supported by the Ecologi community that are replanting mangroves in Madagascar to bring benefits to local biodiversity and communities.
Creating new sustainable income streams for local people is a key component of the project, as is female empowerment. The project employs an average of 85 people per month, with female employees making up approximately 37.5% of the workforce in 2022.
As a result of their involvement in this project, local people are now able to purchase more nutritious food, leading to improved health, and can afford to send their children to school.
To date, the Ecologi community has funded 7.9 million trees on this site in north-west Madagascar.
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📍 Location: Marotaola, Madagascar.
⌛ Dates: 2019 –2022
🌱 Project: Eden Reforestation Projects
🌳 Type: Mangrove reforestation

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This was the very first project we supported, so it holds a special place in our hearts. Seeing its progress over the last four years has brought us so much joy! 
Native mangrove species are being planted on this site, including Avicennia marina, Rhizophora mucronata, and Ceriops tagal. To date, the Ecologi community has funded the planting of over 10 million trees here, and there’s room for another million. 
This site is particularly fascinating as the mangroves are only separated from the open ocean by a thin strip of sand about 100m wide. Despite being more exposed to the ocean, mangroves that have successfully become established are growing well, creating an important habitat for coastal biodiversity and protecting the coastline from erosion by the waves.
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📍 Location: Vĩnh Hảo, Tuy Phong District, Bình Thuận, Vietnam
⌛ Dates: 2018 –2023
🌱 Project: Verified Carbon Standard
☀️ Type: Solar

Vietnam

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Vietnam&#8217;s demand for energy has been rising sharply since the 1990s, and it’s a demand that the country has struggled to fulfil, with an overreliance on coal and frequent power outages.
This project, in the Vinh Hao commune, Vietnam, is generating electricity using photovoltaic technology, which transforms sunlight into electricity. The project is on around 60ha of salt farm, and will generate 83,750MWh of power annually.
Local people have been involved throughout the design phase and operation of the project. The construction process of the project was carefully managed to minimise the impact on the local environment. During the operation of the project, pollution will also be minimised through a series of measures, including ensuring no littering takes place, and waste materials will be responsibly disposed of off-site.
Over the 10-year crediting period, the project will prevent 704,110tCO2e from being emitted by replacing energy in the grid that would otherwise have come from fossil fuels.
The project has given a real boost to the living standards of local communities through economic support funds: the commune gratitude fund in the Vinh Hao commune, and the learning promotion fund in the Binh Thuan province.
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📍 Location: Mount Elgon, Uganda. 
⌛ Dates: 2021 – 2023
🌱 Project: Trees for the Future
🌳 Type: Reforestation and sustainable agroforestry

Uganda

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Trees for the Future’s innovative Forest Gardens approach is all about engaging farmers in reforestation and sustainable agroforestry. The farmers take part in a 4-year programme, learning the skills they need to better manage their land. This brings multiple benefits, including protected crops, stabilised soils, and habitats for pollinators, as well as increasing household incomes.
Over the past two years, the Ecologi community has funded the planting of 766,663 trees in Forest Gardens through this project. Three hundred farmers (57% of whom are women) are involved, with 3,522 people benefitting from the project so far. 
Pictured is 56-year-old Philister Khana, a farmer enrolled in the programme. In just two years she’s taken the number of trees on her plot from 4 to 2,001!
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Why are beavers ecosystem engineers?

Why do we need beavers?

In depth: The Scottish Beaver Trial

In depth: The Devon Beaver Project

In depth: The Cornwall Beaver project

Lessons about management

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Hopescrolling: The good news timeline

Your questions answered about our Wildflowers, Wetlands and Wildlife project

Before and after: See how your climate action is making a difference

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