My 19th page.... Rewilding with the Beaver in Portugal

 

Rewilding with the Beaver in Portugal - an Economic Analysis

 

 Rivers and streams in Portugal are in poor ecological condition. River restoration programs are therefore seen as essential. 

It is well established that the beaver is an important tool for improving the ecological state of fresh water habitats. This study aims to determine the potential to use beavers has a tool in future river restoration programs. 

The work compares, from an economic and environmental perspective, an active management approach in the form of traditional river restoration actions and a passive management strategy in the form of beaver reintroduction. 

First, a brief overview of the conditions for the European beaver to return to the Portuguese landscape is presented. 

Second, an economic estimation based on the potential to save on habitat restoration costs, beaver management expenditures and the funds required for a reintroduction program is provided. These estimates are compared with the APA 2018-2020 river restoration program. 

Third and lastly, the likely large-scale landscape effects are analysed based on documented dynamics for the specie. The results indicate that the conditions exist for the beaver to return to Portugal. 

The benefits associated with the specie outweigh the costs and the landscape effects are broadly positive. The beaver, besides saving costs in river restoration programs, creates conditions for wildlife to thrive, delivers a wide range of ecosystem services and develops a landscape more resilient to climate change.

 

(…)

 

Conclusion

The conditions for the beaver to return to Portuguese territory are in place, in terms of habitat, climate and the legal framework. Beavers exist in harsher climates and many native species would benefit from its presence here. Another finding is that the beaver can be a cost-effective tool in river restoration interventions, even after management and reintroduction costs

are considered. Plus, based on beaver impacts seen in other areas, there is a relevant potential to deliver ecosystem services such as flood alleviation, drought mitigation, wildfire protection, water quality improvement and increasing nature tourism, especially in rural areas. It is safe to state that a passive management intervention based on beaver reintroduction makes sense from a economic and ecologic perspective. It saves river restoration costs, delivers a wide range of ecosystem services and increases the conditions for biodiversity to thrive

  

Sources/Links:

(full document)

https://repositorio.iscte-iul.pt/bitstream/10071/21154/1/Master_Daniel_Azevedo_Verissimo.pdf

https://wilderness-society.org/international-beaver-day/

  ΦΦΦ