Reintroduction, Conservation, and Monitoring of the Beaver

 À l'Eau Castor was founded in 2024 with the goal of reintroducing the European beaver to the Ariège region in light of the rapid and severe impacts of climate change. 

Why this reintroduction project?

The hydrological conditions of recent seasons have put rivers, wetlands, and biodiversity under severe strain,  as in 2022, when we went from sudden floods at the very beginning of the year to a series of heatwaves and a long drought for the rest of the year; 2023 saw another tense and scorching situation.

89% of our wetlands have disappeared in 70 years!!

• 0r the beaver is a regulator of water flow with micro-structures  (dams) on small streams that slow down the flow without breaking continuity, allowing the underlying aquifers to recharge through water infiltration.  These aquifers then replenish the watercourses during low water periods and prevent them from drying up.
• The beaver aerates, clears, and stabilizes the banks by pruning them like a true river technician.  It should be noted that in the south, due to the mild winters, they cut down far fewer trees because their survival depends less on consuming bark.
• Its activity acts as a filter for both excess fertilizers (nitrates, phosphates) and pesticides.
• It also helps mitigate flood peaks and thus the severity of flooding.

Objectives:

1. Increase the resilience of aquatic environments to climate change.

2. Renaturalize waterways and wetlands and enhance their biodiversity.

3. Biological, hydrological, and chemical restoration of waterways.

4. Pave the way for further legal reintroductions elsewhere in France.