'Lost species' takes step nearer to return to wild in the Cairngorms National Park
Beavers could be a step closer to returning to Badenoch and Strathspey after an absence of 400 years.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority is preparing to submit a licence application which will allow for their release in the region.
The first sites identified for potential releases are Rothiemurchus by Aviemore, Wildland Cairngorms Landholdings and RSPB Scotland Insh Marshes by Kincraig.
A formal engagement period – which gave people from all backgrounds and interests the opportunity to share their opinions on the return of this lost species – ended earlier this week.
The next step is the submission of a formal licence application to NatureScot.
The process would involve the relocation of beavers from Tayside to three locations in the upper River Spey catchment.
There was an extensive public engagement period included in the strath with some of the consultations targeted at specific interests including land managers, farmers and those with fishing interests.
Anyone with an interest could also comment online via a dedicated survey which attracted around 500 responses – a third of which were from Cairngorm National Park residents.
Overall, responses revealed that over two-thirds of respondents were strongly in favour of returning beavers to the national park and nearly three quarters were favourable in some way.
Sarah Henshall, the CNPA's head of conservation, said: “Our sincere thanks to everyone who took the time to come to one of our public engagement events or who took the time to comment online on the proposals – with 500 comments received.
"And a massive thank you to all the partners who helped make these events a success.
“We are now in the process of compiling a report on the public engagement process and this will form a critical part of the licence application that will be submitted to NatureScot.
"We hope to hear the outcome of the application by November and should it be successful, we will be able to take the next steps towards bringing beavers back to the park before the end of this year.”
As well as the public events, 14 site visits have also been carried out with land managers to discuss the possible impacts of beavers with site specific advice and discussions around mitigation.
Ms Henshall said: “The project doesn’t end here, our beaver project manager is still available for site visits, support and advice for land managers as the project continues – and should we be successful in our licence application – we will be monitoring the areas that beavers are released into carefully.”
