Scotland’s Beaver Strategy 2022-2045 sets out a route map for action over the coming decades. Its development involved more than 50 organisations from across government and non-government bodies, land management, environmental, and other sectors, using an approach facilitated by the IUCN SSC Conservation Planning and Specialist Group. This ambitious, forward-looking strategy for managing and restoring an ecosystem engineer is one of the first of its kind in Britain.

The reintroduction of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) to Scotland has been a major topic of debate since the mid-1990s. Initial assessments of feasibility and desirability were followed by a trial translocation in Argyll in 2009, the first licensed reintroduction of a mammalian species in Britain. In the meantime, there were increasing numbers of reports of beavers resulting from accidental escapes or unauthorised releases. In November 2021 the Scottish Government announced support for more conservation translocations and wider beaver restoration.

Throughout this time views and experiences have differed markedly between stakeholders. Many beaver supporters have highlighted the benefits they can bring, with aspirations for wider restoration. Others have voiced their concerns over the impacts of beaver activities on certain land uses, conservation interests and fisheries. Conflict has sometimes been intense. The collaborative production of Scotland’s Beaver Strategy in 2022, ‘owned’ by the stakeholders, was therefore timely and necessary. It draws on research and our experiences of living with beavers and reflects the aspirations and concerns of stakeholders as wider restoration begins. New conservation translocations are now underway and planned.