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Chamber and committees

Question reference: S5W-05479

  • Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
  • Date lodged: 12 December 2016
  • Current status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 January 2017

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice and support is being offered to farmers, land owners and other relevant stakeholders regarding mitigating potential damage caused by beavers, and what steps it is taking to engage with these groups.


Answer

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has a dedicated web page and advisory service in place to give farmers one-on-one advice and help on the ground. Farmers can get more information at: http://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-nature/beavers/beaver-management-advice

Advice to farmers and others was formalised with the creation of the Tayside Beaver Study Group in 2012 when the field officer provided a bespoke service. This service has been carried forward to the present with a specialist contractor working for SNH. SNH will continue to work with stakeholders to seek to develop solutions and mitigation measures which will underpin further advice to those landowners that are affected by beaver activity.