Nature agency accused of stalling over beaver release

CONSERVATIONISTS have criticised Scotland’s nature agency for delaying a decision on plans to release beavers in a Highland glen.

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The Scottish Wildlife Trust called into question the “transparency and consistency” of NatureScot's process for beaver translocation while the owner of the only private site to have reintroduced the animals in Scotland accused the agency of “cowardly stalling”.

NatureScot announced a delay to a decision on an application by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and Trees for Life to release beavers in Glen Affric citing considerable concern about the proposal among the local community.

The agency said the move is in line with the Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations. If approved, the proposal would see the first official release of beavers in the north-west Highlands 400 years after the native species was driven to extinction.