Culture wars by ministers over the reintroduction of animals such as the beaver and the lynx must end if we are to restore nature in England, the head of the government’s taskforce on the issue has said.
Dr Andy Clements, an ornithologist who helped establish the government regulator Natural England, runs the species reintroduction taskforce, and he’s well placed to do so. He was one of those behind the hugely successful reintroduction of red kites into England.
He said he was frustrated by the debate over reintroducing species because it was based on “anecdote, not evidence”, when it is clear that increasing the abundance of rare and locally extinct species by releasing them into the wild can help restore nature.
I can understand the farmer’s reluctance to beavers. Those little dudes make radical changes to the landscape. Yes, that’s a good thing for the ecosystem, but I’m sure the farmers are feeling some NIMBY.
There’s a dam a short walk from my camp in the swamp. It created a pond about of an acre so, rich with wildlife and carnivorous plants. On the other side, water pours into a small, perfectly clear creek. Kinda kind blowing to think a small mammal did all that.
No idea what the complaints are about for the other animals.
Somebody tell the farmers about chinampas. Problem solved.
Edit: Really there are all manner of silvopasture techniques that can be used to produce a profitable harvest while living in harmony with the beavers and other critters.