Beavers can help reduce the effects of drought

The University of Alberta study said beavers could help reduce the effects of drought and should not move them out of wetlands for industrial and residential development.

According to a new University of Alberta study, although beavers may be viewed as harmful animals, they may reduce the effects of drought, and therefore need to avoid moving them out of areas. wetlands to meet the needs of industry, agriculture and urban areas.

Glynnis Hood - head of the study and an assistant professor of Environmental Science at the Augustana University of Alberta at Camrose, Canada, said: 'The removal of a beaver should be viewed as a disturbing act. environment is equal to accretion, peat mining and industrial water extraction. '

(Photo: Glynnis Hood, University of Alberta) In testing how beavers affect some of Alberta's wetlands in Elk Island National Park over the past 54 years, Hood and co-investigator Her is Professor Suzanne Bayley who discovered that the presence of beavers and their dams increased nine times the amount of open water.

Weather models predict the extent of drought impacts in North America will increase in frequency and length over the next 100 years, and beavers will almost play an important role in maintaining open water and reducing the impact. The accretion and drainage of wetlands are enhanced to prepare for urban and industrial expansion, and the marine herds are being moved both outside and in protected areas, This means that the risk of water shortage continues, Hood notes.

Hood said: ' In times of drought, beavers can be one of the most effective ways to reduce the lack of wetlands . Some argue that the weather drives everything, but the presence of beaver has a profound effect on the open water of an area. Beaver helps to retain water in areas that will be drought-prone. ' Even during the drought, where the beaver's presence is present, there will be 60% more open water than the areas during the previous drought without beaver.

Recently published research on the online version of Biological Conservation also shows that temperature, precipitation and other climate changes are less important than beavers in maintaining areas. open water in wetlands of mixed northern wood forests.

The role of beavers in keeping open water is important for a number of reasons. Flooding caused by beaver dams provides shelter and water for land and amphibian animals, and even provides water for livestock. This flooding can also recharge groundwater reserves.