Beaver wetlands save water and millions of crowns, Czech study finds

Beaver-built wetlands help retain water in drought-stricken landscapes, with a single beaver dam potentially saving the state or other landowners up to CZK 2 million, according to a study of ten Czech beaver wetlands conducted by the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. The findings were announced on Tuesday by the Czech Nature Conservation Agency (AOPK ČR) and are consistent with research from Canada and England.

The agency says the benefits of beaver activity are particularly evident during the current heatwave and dry conditions. Along the Štěpánovický Stream near Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou, sections of the watercourse have dried up completely, while water remains in areas modified by beavers.

According to Aleš Vorel of the Czech University of Life Sciences, wherever beaver wetlands do not create serious conflicts, the animals perform valuable restoration work that would otherwise require costly planning and public funding. Destroying their dams, he added, can eliminate natural water-management measures worth millions of crowns that beavers created free of charge and may later have to be rebuilt at taxpayers' expense.