Image description: A beaver sitting in water. Image by Matej Bizjak / Pexels.

An opinion piece by farmer and owner of Argaty Red Kites, Tom Bowser, has called out NatureScot for stalling beaver reintroductions, declaring “something is wrong at the heart of NatureScot”.

Tom Bowser questions the Nature Agency’s ongoing blocking of beaver releases, despite Scotland having some of the most robust policies in place alongside majority public backing. In particular, he questions NatureScot basing their decision on concern amongst the local community, when “two-thirds of the Glen Affric community supported the proposals, and NatureScot itself had previously called the consultations “exemplary… with community support already demonstrated after two years of engagement, what else can there possibly be to consult on?”.

Bowser says he is even more confused by NatureScot’s decision when Strathglass, where the proposal’s opponents reside, already has an established beaver population: “If this application is too controversial to proceed, what hope have we of assisting the spread of beavers and allowing them to help us fight biodiversity loss and climate breakdown?”.

The piece also cites other recent criticism by Trees for Life, which similarly said the delay by NatureScot on a decision to grant a licence application for the historic official release of beavers in Glen Affric was unexpected and astonishing, leading to headlines lamenting the agencies’ beaver betrayal.

The main frustration Tom Bowser shared was “every beaver translocation applicant has faced bureaucratic burdens and legislative inconsistency.”

“Time and time again I was told that our proposal to move these much-needed animals from areas where they were destined to be shot was “novel and contentious”. At that time, NatureScot was dispensing licences in less than 24 hours to farmers wishing to kill beavers.”

Recalling Trees for Life proved the illegality of NatureScot’s beaver cull policy in 2021, Tom Bowser suggests Scotland needs “an agency willing to champion coexistence with wildlife, brave enough to overcome resistance to vital change, humane enough to support everyone through that difficult process”.