This move aligns legislation in Wales with protection legislation elsewhere in Britain and reflects strong public and conservation support for the return of beavers and their ecological benefits.
Last year, the Deputy First Minister announced that the Welsh Government was to officially recognise beavers as a native species and extend European Protected Species status to them in Wales. The new legislation comes into force from the 4th March 2026 and this latest action fulfils Welsh Government’s commitment.
Alicia Leow-Dyke, Welsh Beaver Project Officer for the Wildlife Trusts in Wales, says:
“We have been working towards this goal of legal protection for beavers in Wales for many years, so we are delighted with this brilliant outcome. Beavers play a vital role in our ecosystems and formally recognising them as a native species is the right thing to do. It marks a vital milestone in the re-establishment of wild beavers to Wales. We thank the Welsh Government for listening to all the evidence and making the right decision.”
Richard Young, CEO of Beaver Trust, says:
“We warmly welcome the decision to grant beavers legal protection in Wales. Beavers provide an incredible range of benefits to our ecosystems, making this a hugely positive step for nature recovery. This landmark decision reflects years of commitment and collaboration from conservationists, communities, and policymakers, all working tirelessly to create a more resilient and biodiverse Wales.”
Karen Whitfield, Director of Wales Environment Link, says:
“Wales Environment Link welcome the decision to legally protect beavers in Wales. This is a significant step which could speed up the restoration of nature across Welsh river catchments. Responsibly managed reintroductions built on good community engagement, strong evidence, and impact assessments are now critical to ensure the benefits of beavers in Welsh rivers can be enjoyed by all.”
Beavers were once widespread across Wales, but due to overhunting by humans mainly for their fur and meat they became extinct after the Middle Ages in Wales and by the end of the 16th century they were extinct from the rest of Britain. As ecosystem engineers the natural behaviour of beavers can help restore and manage freshwater ecosystems, and create climate-resilient landscapes – so this recent announcement is excellent news for wildlife and people.
A survey by the University of Exeter in 2023 found that 88.70% of respondents in Wales supported wild beavers with 83.72% wanting them to have ‘strong legal protection’, so this action will be welcomed by the vast majority of people in Wales.
Through the Welsh Beaver Project, the Wildlife Trusts in Wales have been working for 20 years to restore wild beavers to the Welsh landscape and this latest decision marks the most significant step to date in achieving that vision.
The Wildlife Trusts and Beaver Trust have been working with partners from the Wales Environment Link network to secure the protection of beavers in Wales. The species was granted protected status in Scotland in 2019 and England in 2022, so this move aligns legislation in Wales with the rest of Britain.
The Wildlife Trusts and Beaver Trust are represented on the Wales Beaver Forum, recently set up by the Welsh Government to ensure discussions continue between stakeholders to address any concerns and maximise the benefits that beavers bring.
Through the Living With Beavers In The Dyfi Catchment Project, the Welsh Beaver Project led by the Wildlife Trusts in Wales has been developing a Beaver Management Network for Wales. This is funded by the Nature Networks Fund (round two), which is delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, on behalf of the Welsh Government and in partnership with Natural Resources Wales.