22 October, 2021
NatureScot’s beaver management: judicial review
We want to clarify a range of inaccuracies in media reporting, following a judicial challenge of our approach to beaver management, brought by the Trees for Life organisation
Of the five complaints under consideration by the Court, four were rejected entirely. The Court found only one complaint to be well founded - that NatureScot must give reasons for issuing a licence – on what amounts to a technical point of law.
In light of this part of the ruling, we will amend existing licenses when needed, to show that culling is a necessary last resort, due to issues such as agricultural damage.
The court decision does not affect the legality of any acts carried out under current species control licence for beaver.
We welcome the Court’s broad vindication of our licensing process. We have been working with partners for 25 years to bring back beavers to Scotland because of the many benefits they bring to both people and nature, particularly in this crucial time of climate emergency. But in certain circumstances, beavers can cause problems. In those specific situations where beavers pose a risk of serious damage to farmland or where they occasionally cause a public health and safety concern, we issue species control licences accordingly.
-ENDS
Contact information
- Name
- Cat Synnot
- cat.synnot@nature.scot
NatureScot is Scotland's nature agency. Responding to the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, we work to protect and restore nature by inspiring everyone to value our natural world. Our goal is a nature-rich, net-zero future for Scotland. For more information, visit our website at www.nature.scot
'S e buidheann nàdair na h-Alba a th’ ann an NàdarAlba. Bidh sinn a’ gleidheadh agus a’ slànachadh nàdar le bhith a’ brosnachadh a h-uile duine gu spèis a chur air an t-saoghal nàdarra againn, agus sinn a’ freagairt air an dà chùis-èiginn de chall bith-iomadachd ’s atharrachadh na gnàth-shìde. ’S e ar n-amas nàdar beairteach ’s cothromachadh carboin do dh’Alba. Airson an tuilleadh fiosrachaidh, thoiribh sùil air an làraich-lìn againn aig www.nature.scot