My Lords, the Government recognise that beavers can benefit biodiversity, improve water quality and reduce flooding, among other things. However, beavers can also potentially cause damage to property and infrastructure through flooding and foraging. This means that reintroductions must balance the benefits and the risks, and be carefully considered and planned. Defra continues to work with Natural England to develop our approach to beaver reintroductions and management.
I thank the Minister for her Answer, although it is disappointing, given that the benefits of beavers in the UK are already very evident. I wonder if she is aware of the case in the Brdy protected landscape area in the Czech Republic, where beavers demonstrably saved the local government €1 million by putting a dam exactly where it needed to be to prevent flooding. Could not so many communities in England now be benefiting from that kind of protection at no cost?
My Lords, as I said, we recognise the benefits that beavers can bring. Although reintroduction worked extremely well in that particular case, they have to be released into the right place at the right time with proper management. That is what this Government are working towards.
My Lords, I congratulate the Minister on identifying the damage that beavers do. I declare an interest: illegally introduced beavers have destroyed the willow trees at the bottom of my garden. They are ringing trees on the River Tay that are more than 100 years old, undermining the banking. Although there may be a case for introducing beavers in some places, it should be done very carefully, and those who do it illegally should be held to account.
The noble Lord is right to say that we need to manage beaver release correctly. A licence is, of course, required to release beavers in England and these are available only for release into enclosures. The licensing scheme, which is managed by Natural England, creates controls so that any potential damage is minimised.
My Lords, though I sympathise with the noble Lord, Lord Forsyth, about his willows, does my noble friend the Minister agree that where beavers are allowed to flourish they help other species to flourish too? That is a fine thing for one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.
A 2020 evidence review by Natural England found that beaver reintroductions can bring benefits through the restoration of lost natural ecosystems, including boosting biodiversity and increasing other species. I am sure noble Lords listen to “The Archers”, as I do, on which there was a story around beavers this week. What we will have learned from that regarding species is that where you see beavers you will also find tits.
On Tuesday, I visited the South Downs National Park, which has introduced a pair of beavers. Their introduction can have benefits for other animals. They are large animals that are not aggressive to other species such as the mink, but they appear to act as a deterrent for the mink. Where water voles have been reintroduced alongside beavers, volunteers have noticed the benefit that the number of mink has reduced and thus the water voles thrive. Are the Government considering the reintroduction of both species in areas where they used to be abundant?
The Government’s approach to reintroductions more widely needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis. We are committed to providing opportunities for the reintroduction of formerly native species where the benefits for the environment, such as the noble Baroness has demonstrated, are clear, but any reintroductions of any species must follow the published Reintroductions and conservation translocations: code and guidance for England.
My Lords, I completely support the Government’s view on beavers and what the noble Baroness said about them bringing other species, but I will put in a plea for another wild species, which is the hare. At the moment, you can hunt and shoot hares 24/7, all through the year. We need to introduce a time, when hares are pregnant and breeding, when they are off the cards for people to shoot. This is really important, as the population of this majestic animal is dwindling rapidly. People in China are betting on hare coursing in Norfolk and places such as that, and they put cameras on the dogs to watch them tear the hares apart. This is truly shocking. It is an amazing, wonderful, beautiful animal.
Of course, hare coursing is not allowed in this country. I congratulate the previous Government on tightening up the rules around this, which was really important. The particular issue around the shooting of hares is that there is not a closed season, which there is for other species. This is an anomaly, and we should look at it very carefully.
My Lords, I congratulate the Minister on the stand that this Government have taken. If beavers are to be introduced in areas where they are currently not found, to what extent will farmers, drainage boards and others in the catchment area be consulted?
My Lords, may I take my noble friend back to her previous answer on the reintroduction of other wild species? I am very glad to find that she is a fellow fan of “The Archers”. She will be aware that there were recently some very serious illegal releases in Scotland, which resulted in not only the use of precious resources but the death of at least one of the animals. Can she say what sanctions are available to be brought to bear against people who do that? Whether their intentions are good or ill, they are not doing anybody any favours.