Beavers are nature’s engineers and got busy in the Brdy region of the Czech Republic, completing a long-stalled revitalization project. The original project was to build a barrier for the Klabava River. Acting as a shield, the barrier would have protected critically endangered crayfish. The project began in 2018 to prevent spillover of sediment and acidic water from nearby ponds.
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Organizers had a building permit but delayed work due to continuing disputes over the land use. The area was altered and damaged after being used as a military training ground. While the negotiations were in progress and the budget was soaring, beavers took matters into their own hands. By chewing through the red tape, the beavers have saved the Czech Republic about $1.2 million.
Surprisingly, the beavers constructed their dams in almost the same spots called for in the building plan. Within days, the animals did what would have taken humans months of work, noise, and disruption.
Beavers Have A Future In The Czech Republic Wetlands
Beavers are nature’s engineers and environmentalists. Their “construction” projects regenerate ecosystems and benefit local wildlife. Creating the new wetlands added pools and canals, and the final area is about twice as large as the original design. The beaver’s work will help prevent flooding, improve the water quality through natural filtration, and boost wildlife.
Four dams have already been constructed in the gully, and the beavers are busy working on more. Some critics don’t appreciate all the free labor. Farmers complain about the beavers taking down the trees, but they don’t have much on their side. The wetlands area has been a protected site since 2016, and lands that might be at risk are far from the protected area.
A Brdy Protected Land Administration (PLA) statement says: “Beaver wetlands are a paradise for many animals and plants. They are stable ecosystems that contribute to the diversity of our landscape. Beavers are returning the landscape altered by humans to its natural beauty.”
This project perfectly exemplifies what happens when we let nature do its thing. It is a premier wetland ecosystem that is improving daily and thriving without human intervention. Kudos to the beavers in the Czech Republic for seeing a problem and taking action to correct it.
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