Perthshire famer says beaver damage will cost £2m-plus
Perthshire famer says beaver damage will cost £2m-plus Yahoo News UK
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Perthshire Farmer Claims Beavers Cause £2 Million in Crop Damage
A Perthshire farmer has reported a loss of over £2 million due to flooding caused by beavers, warning that Scottish agriculture will suffer irreparable damage if the situation continues. The farmer, who grows produce along the Tay and Isla rivers, shared video footage with the Perthshire Advertiser, showing collapsed river embankments and flooded fields. The embankments were undermined by beavers tunneling into them, leading to the flooding of fields with water as deep as a meter. The farmer estimates his losses, including repair costs and lost crops, to be over £2 million.
Impact on Scottish Agriculture
- The loss of prime agricultural land in Scotland is a significant concern.
- Only eight percent of Scotland has suitable land for fruit and vegetable production.
- The Strathmore area, from Crieff to Montrose, contains some of the best agricultural land in Scotland.
- If the damage caused by beavers continues, this land will become unfarmable and uneconomic.
Call for Compensation
Perthshire Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser argues that the Scottish Government has a moral obligation to compensate farmers for beaver-related damage. Farmers along the Tay, Ericht, and Isla rivers have experienced significant losses due to flooding and crop damage. NFU Scotland policy director Jonnie Hall highlights a specific location where a flood bank was compromised by a beaver lodge, causing physical and financial losses that the farm business cannot sustain.
Beaver Management and Support for Farmers
Scottish Government biodiversity minister and Green MSP Lorna Slater witnessed the impacts of beavers and river management restrictions during a visit to Perthshire. She emphasizes that beavers can be trapped under license and removed from areas where they are causing agricultural damage. NatureScot offers support to farmers and landowners, including the use of tree guards and deterrent paint, regulation of water levels through dams, and in-stream fencing to prevent dam building activity at culverts. Beaver licenses will continue to be available for serious risks where no feasible alternatives for beaver management exist. Long-term solutions, such as increasing the resilience of river banks to flooding events, are being explored.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 15: Life on Land
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.
- SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
- SDG 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
The article does not explicitly mention any indicators to measure progress towards the identified targets. However, potential indicators could include:
- Number of incidents of flooding caused by beavers
- Extent of crop damage caused by flooding
- Amount of financial losses incurred by farmers due to beaver-related damage
- Number of beavers trapped and removed from areas causing agricultural damage
- Extent of restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems affected by beaver activity
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | SDG 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate. | – Number of incidents of flooding caused by beavers – Extent of crop damage caused by flooding |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. | – Amount of financial losses incurred by farmers due to beaver-related damage |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | SDG 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements. | – Number of beavers trapped and removed from areas causing agricultural damage – Extent of restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems affected by beaver activity |
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Source: uk.news.yahoo.com
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