Beavers will be given legal protection in England, meaning it will be illegal to kill or harm them as they are formally recognized as native wildlife.
This is a step forward for the charismatic rodents, which were hunted to extinction in the country 400 years ago but have made a resurgence due to illegal releases across the country.
The government has also been authorizing the release of beavers within enclosures, and some environmentalists hope that by the end of the year the next beaver strategy will include permits for the rodents to be released to roam wild.
There are believed to be hundreds of beavers already living wild along England’s waterways, with some experts believing there could be as many as 800.
The new legislation, which will come into force on October 1, will make it an offense to deliberately capture, kill, disturb or injure beavers, or damage their breeding grounds or resting places, without the appropriate licence.
Animals are known as “nature’s engineers” because they create wetlands, an important habitat for many plants and animals, when they build dams. In doing so, they also prevent flooding and drought-related problems, such as wildfires, by keeping water on the land.
Derek Gow, a farmer-turned-rewilderer who is known as one of the country’s leading beaver experts, said: “Today’s news that beavers will have legal protection in England is both appropriate and welcome.
“We have been very slow to recognize the critical role this species plays in creating complex wetland landscapes, which can enable resilience against both extremes of flood and drought. All they need from us to ensure this goal is understanding , tolerance and space”.
There was confusion this week as the plans were due to be announced earlier but appeared to have been pulled at the last minute.
Craig Bennett, chief executive of the Wildlife Trusts, said at the time: “Clarity on legal protections for beavers is crucial if populations are to recover and thrive in the long term – it is extremely disappointing that this legislation has been brought to a screeching halt, with no explanation why.
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“We need to see the widespread return of wild beavers to create vital wetland habitats and restore rivers, many of which have been damaged by centuries of dredging and cut from flood plains. As England grapples with a natural and climate emergency , we need our beavers back.”
However, Defra sources blamed the rush to get the legislation out before the recess for the obligation, saying they had always planned to enshrine these protections in law, as it is a legal requirement under the Berne convention.