Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) - Regulation 3ZA: implementation report 2019 to 2024
Overview of the implementation of measures taken in Scotland to meet the provisions of the Birds and and Habitats Directives, and to achieve the objectives of those Directives between 2019 and 2024.
7. Reintroduction of Annex IV species (Art. 22.a)
The Eurasian Beaver Castor fiber became a European Protected Species in Scotland in May 2019. A policy change allowed beaver translocation to new catchments in Scotland from November 2021. Up to that point beavers had been officially permitted to remain in the Tay and Forth catchments and Knapdale. Since 2022 the licensed translocation of beavers has been authorized to three new river catchments: Loch Lomond (Leven), the Spey and the Beauly. A total of 115 beavers have now been translocated to new areas within Scotland. Beavers are also thought to have expanded naturally to the wider Forth catchment, West Lothian, Fife and in the Highlands.
Contact
Email: biodiversity@gov.scot