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The reintroduction of beavers in Welsh rivers has moved a step closer following a decision by Scottish ministers to give them protected status in Scotland.

Eurasian beavers taken from Norway were released in Argyll in 2009, while an illegally-released population has grown rapidly in Tayside.

Both Scottish groups will now be allowed to expand naturally and will be managed to protect farmers and landowners.

TV presenter Iolo Williams believes the move will have positive implications for reintroducing beavers to Wales.

He said: “It’s my dream to see this species back in the wild in Wales.

“Beavers are great ‘natural engineers’ and create new wetlands that support a diverse range of other wildlife.

“Seeing beavers in the wild is an inspiring wildlife experience and offers opportunities for responsible wildlife tourism businesses to grow.”

(Image: Rob Browne)

The Welsh Beaver Project was launched by the Wildlife Trusts in Wales in 2005.

It now hopes to oversee its first reintroductions next year.

The Bangor-based initiative is investigating a number of sites across Wales and in the process of submitting a licence application.

It is also investigating reintroducing beavers to enclosed sites where they can be used as a management tool to boost habitat restoration.

(Image: Ian Sargent)

Beavers were once native to Britain but have been extinct for hundreds of years.

Often referred to as “ecosystem engineers”, they can reduce the risk of flooding by creating dams which store rainwater.

Beaver dams also trap sediment, which helps to filter the water and reduce the amount of pollution entering river systems.

This provides ideal habitats for a range of wildlife from fungi to invertebrates, fish, mammals and birds.

But farmers have expressed alarm over the implications of blocked drainage channels, felled trees and riverbank burrows on prime food-producing land.

In Scotland, concerns over the impact on crops and livestock reportedly prompted some landowners to remove dams and kill beavers before this week's protection order.

Devon Wildlife Trust recently released a pair of beavers into the River Otter as part of a beaver reintroduction trial in England.