Beaver dams destructive in Lithuania
Beavers as semi-aquatic animals affect both riparian forests and drainage system significantly. In Lithuania, approximately half of all the beaver ponds are regarded as destructive to drainage systems and forests.
Effects of beavers on surface water quality can be both positive and negative.
Despite numerous works and different publications on separate topics (buffer zones, drainage system and beaver), there is a lack of studies, demonstrations and tools of beavers' effect on loads of hazardous substances.
WAMBAF will help us to develop tools
As part of the WAMBAF project we strive to develop a Beaver tool and a Beaver handbook. The tool will help classifying beaver dams and help decide on the best management practise. Thereby it can be helpful in the work of reducing the leakage of nutrients and hazardous substances to the regional waters and the Baltic Sea.
By establishing demonstration areas and training courses about management of beaver populations and maintenance of drainage systems, the project will help to clarify the actual role of beavers. The beaver tool and handbook is meant to be used by target groups including policy makers, foresters, conservationists and NGO:s, as hunters, forest owners and associations of foresters.
Olgirda Belova