In a new program launched on Friday, England will soon release beavers into its waterways. The return of the “ecosystem engineers” to the wild signals a renewed respect for an animal that was once hunted to extinction.

Eurasian beavers have been extinct in Britain since the 16th century, when they were killed for their meat, fur and castor sacs — glands that secrete castoreum, an oily, strong-smelling substance that was widely used in the making of perfumes, reported AFP.

“After centuries of absence, beavers are beginning to reclaim their rightful place in the English landscape,” a press release from Natural England said. “The beaver’s ability to transform and revitalise our degraded landscape is extraordinary. Natural England believes that their successful reintroduction will play a vital part in restoring rivers and wetlands, addressing the nature crisis and contributing to the delivery of national biodiversity targets including the creation of wildlife-rich habitats and halting the decline in species abundance.”

The United Kingdom’s government said the release of the industrious rodents would be carefully managed, AFP reported.

In recent years, smaller populations of beavers were reintroduced in enclosures as part of a more extensive “rewilding” effort. Following some illegal releases and escapes, roughly 500 are thought to already be living in England’s wildlands.

Beavers are considered a “keystone species” by biologists for their ability to reshape the surrounding environment by building dams and pools, which benefit other wildlife while helping to prevent drought and flooding.

“Restoring nature means restoring whole ecosystems, and few can beat the beaver in helping bring landscapes to life,” said Richard Benwell, chief executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, as reported by The Guardian. “Their eco-engineering creates diverse habitats that are great for local communities and for wildlife. It’s high time for wild releases and excellent that the government is making progress.”

A beaver-created wetland. Beavers create and restore wetland habitats, providing a haven for many species to thrive. Alan Puttock / University of Exeter

The reintroduction efforts have been controversial in Britain, as farmers worry about how the beavers will impact their land, AFP reported.

Tom Bradshaw, head of the National Farmers’ Union, made the argument that landowners need to have the right to use “lethal control” if beavers “end up in the wrong place.”

The new program specifies that “as a last resort, beavers may be trapped and translocated or lethally controlled.”

“Reintroducing beavers is a complex process that requires careful planning and collaboration. Natural England’s licensing approach and criteria aim to achieve a measured pace of reintroduction, and prioritise areas where beavers can thrive without causing significant conflicts with people, agriculture and infrastructure,” the press release said.

Each beaver rewilding proposal is required to provide a 10-year plan in support of their return. The government has pledged to help farmers who make space for the animals on their land.

“The first project that we have licensed for wild release is the National Trust’s Purbeck Beaver Project in Dorset – where beavers are expected to deliver many benefits across the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve including increasing biodiversity, restoring lost wetland habitats and improving the condition of the protected sites across the area. The project was assessed against beaver wild release criteria which have been developed through extensive engagement with stakeholders, in particular with the Environment Agency staff in our integrated project team,” Natural England said.

One of the most nature-depleted areas on the planet, the UK has lost nearly half of its wild species in recent decades, a 2021 parliamentary report said.

Dr. Roisin Campbell-Palmer, head of restoration at the Beaver Trust, called for the widespread granting of licenses, saying the reintroduction effort was a “landmark moment,” reported AFP.

Roisin said England was “generations behind the rest of Europe,” where countries like France, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain and Germany have come up with plans to help beavers reestablish themselves.

“Reintroducing beavers to the wild is a critical milestone for this government’s plan to protect and restore our natural world,” said Minister for Nature Mary Creagh.

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