Increased Presence of Nutria Poses Threat to Flood Prevention Efforts

Increased Presence of Nutria Poses Threat to Flood Prevention Efforts

In Germany, the increasing presence of beavers, originally from South America, is causing both positive ecological impacts and management challenges. As a non-native species according to EU regulations, the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) is implementing measures to control their population and mitigate conflicts.

Beavers' dam-building activities naturally regulate water flow, creating wetlands and increasing water retention. This natural water management contributes positively to ecosystem services and biodiversity, enhancing flood protection and supporting climate resilience [3]. As a keystone species, beavers significantly boost biodiversity by creating diverse aquatic and riparian habitats, benefiting many other species [3].

However, their activities can sometimes conflict with land use and native species, especially when dams flood agricultural or urban areas, or disrupt existing habitats [1][2]. Their feeding habits threaten the habitats of other animal species, including rare ones, and they can make dikes very unstable, requiring significant resources for repairs. Beavers love to eat reeds, which can result in entire river stretches becoming free of reeds. The reed areas, where the flow of rivers is usually slower, are nurseries for insects, amphibians, fish, and birds [4].

Germany employs trained Beaver Managers who mediate between human activities and beaver presence. They use water level control devices such as pipes installed in dykes to regulate water height without destroying the beaver’s dams, allowing coexistence while preventing flooding of human land [1]. Protective barriers are placed around valuable fields and trees to prevent damage by beavers, fostering coexistence while minimizing economic loss [1].

Official reintroduction programs, especially in Bavaria, have caused major population growth since the late 19th century. By 2019, beaver numbers in Germany exceeded 40,000, appearing even in urban areas, which necessitates ongoing monitoring and management [2]. The spread of beavers has doubled compared to the first survey in 2015, according to the hunting association, and more than a third (35 percent) of the hunting areas participating in the survey reported beaver presence in 2023 [5].

The highest numbers of beavers are registered in the North German lowlands. Escaped and released animals now inhabit rivers and lakes in Germany. Beavers have been kept on farms in Germany since the 19th century for their meat and fur [6].

The German Wildlife Foundation sees local dangers from beaver populations, especially in terms of flood protection, while the German Hunting Association calls for beavers to be included in the Federal Hunting Act [7]. Not every area reporting beaver presence also has problems with the animals.

The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation is implementing measures alongside hunting, including an end to targeted feeding of the animals, to balance the ecological benefits and management challenges posed by beavers in Germany.

1. The significant boost in biodiversity by beavers, as a keystone species, is evident through their creation of diverse aquatic and riparian habitats.
2. In the realm of health-and-wellness and fitness-and-exercise, an active lifestyle may help support climate resilience akin to the natural water management provided by beavers' dam-building activities.
3. The increased presence of beavers in Germany, particularly in urban areas, has led to a surge in demand for expertise in managing their impact, creating opportunities in the business sector for Beaver Managers.
4. The expansion of beaver populations has had rival effects on the environment: posing management challenges and threatening the habitats of other species, yet enhancing flood protection and promoting ecosystem services.
5. The nutritional benefits of beavers, traditionally kept on farms for their meat and fur, have been acknowledged in the historical context of Germany, demonstrating an intersection between science and the environmental-science fields.
6. The ongoing debate over beaver management in Germany between the German Wildlife Foundation and the German Hunting Association illustrates the intricate relationship between environmental-science, business, and general-news, as well as the importance of education-and-self-development in achieving sustainable coexistence with this complex species.

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