Current work in wildlife, rivers, public lands, and climate

Thursday, September 22, 2011
Beaver to the Rescue

A New Review of Impacts of Beaver on Climate Change Adaptation Demonstrates Enormous Benefits
Contact: Bryan Bird (505) 988-9126 x1157

Santa Fe— The reestablishment of American beaver (Castor canadensis;beaver) and its habitat is a viable and cost-effective climate change adaptation strategy. A new reportby WildEarth Guardians and co-authors reviews the science of beaver and ecosystem services and concludes that because of the unique hydrological engineering by dam-building beaver, support and reestablishment of beaver is an important climate change adaptation tool in the United States. The information presented establishes the critical roles beaver play in ecosystem structure and function and how those roles can contribute significantly to climate change adaptation strategies.

“Beaver are hugely beneficial formaintaining natural hydrological systems especially during climate change anddrought.” Said Bryan Bird, forest ecologist for WildEarth Guardians and thereport’s author. “These industrious animals may be our most cost-effective andsimple means of adapting to climate change impacts on our water supply in theWest.”

There report names three components essential for beaverreestablishment and planning:

1. Inventory historic, occupied, and potential beaverhabitat at state scales.
2. Assess threats and challenges to, as well asopportunities for support of beaver reestablishment in suitable habitat.
3. Implement beaver reestablishment pilot projects wherea 1/3 or less of historic beaver habitat is currently occupied.

“If we want beaver to have ameasurable affect on water systems, we need cooperation from the federal andstate governments across the west in reestablishing viable populations,” SaidBird. “Climate change will alter patterns of precipitation and runoff and thissuper animal can help us adapt to those changes.”