Nature's contribution to people and community engagement: socio-cultural and economic perceptions of Beaver presence in the environment.
Abstract
This report presents the findings of a research project that aimed to collate, analyse and report field-based evidence of the effects of beaver (Castor fiber) presence in Scotland on socio-cultural and economic perceptions associated with 'cultural ecosystem services' and 'nature's contribution to people' that relate to people's recreational, educational, and spiritual interactions with the environment, plus provisioning/regulating and supporting ecosystem services that all contribute to human well-being and have socio-cultural and economic effects. The main findings are as follows. (1) Perceptions of beavers within the community, their impacts, and contribution to people, were diverse. There was no clear link to gender, but there were intergenerational differences. (2) There was a high degree of common understanding across participants about beaver behaviour and activities, although there was also a demand for more information. (3) There were varied (and in certain instances very polarised) views about whether those behaviours and activities (e.g. beavers modifying their environment), were considered positive or negative. (4) What was particularly important were the participants' relationships to the land, for example where they had a role in conservation, land management, and/or were a landowner within the catchment. (5) The research demonstrated a clear relationship between concerns about beaver impacts and the perceived likelihood of different forms of impact. These differences were largely informed by the proximity of participants' land/property to watercourses. (6) Participants' perceptions of beavers were influenced by the context of the proposed translocation bid, specifically this was not a hypothetical exercise, but corresponded to the real potential for beavers to be actively released into the local environment. (7) Perceptions of beavers and the proposed translocation were also affected (both positively and negatively) by participants' previous experiences of, and opinions about, Trees for Life. Based on the study findings, a range of further action is proposed covering: the report, beaver impacts, beaver management, information, education, community engagement, and guidance, including responsibilities.