Five Centuries Later, the Beaver Is Back!

The European beaver is once again on Portuguese territory, as there is undeniable proof of the rodent’s return after five hundred years of absence. This is a positive and significant step in the aquatic rewilding of rivers and watercourses.

“We’ve been on the lookout for this breakthrough for a few years now, and now we’re thrilled to confirm its return, exclaims Pedro Prata, Team Leader at Rewilding Portugal. “The beaver is a natural ally in restoring the health of our rivers and wetlands and has a fundamental role to play in our river ecosystems.”

For two decades, population recovery of the emblematic ecosystem engineer took place in the Arribes del Duero Natural Park, Spain, Portugal’s neighbour. Now, photo-trapping cameras confirmed the presence of a young adult beaver in Portuguese territory. The beaver’s instinct is to build dams, dig channels, and modify riverbanks, thus profoundly transforming the landscape, bringing diversity, and contributing to water retention. Where small wetlands, marshes, and areas of standing water appear, a variety of species thrive, like amphibians, aquatic insects, water birds, fish, and small mammals. The return of beavers should be harnessed as a lever for positive ecological transformation as their presence contributes to restoring natural processes, giving nature back its role, and creating more lively, resilient, and biodiverse landscapes. “The return of the beaver to Portugal is a symbol of hope and change. It shows that if we give nature space and time, it will respond. It’s now up to us to ensure that this return is well-received and protected.”