Mercosur: Farming Impact & Preparation – Carinthia Chamber of Agriculture

The information event in the Gailtal on the beaver problem made it clear: the concerns of landowners and hunters are growing. Around 100 affected people were hoping for practical solutions, but the focus was primarily on legal requirements such as the Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive, which guarantees strict protection for the Eurasian beaver.

For many farmers this means waterlogged meadows, loss of yields, undermined embankments and damage to paths and drainage. The situation is particularly tense in Natura 2000 areas, where interventions are severely restricted. Many people feel a contradiction here: areas are considered ecological priority zones and CO₂ storage, but are hardly manageable due to beaver abundance.

The permitted removal of 148 animals is an important step, but for many it is only a beginning. Inventories and damage are increasing, but bureaucratic hurdles remain. What is needed is unbureaucratic compensation, compensation for infrastructure damage and an objective debate about adjustments in management. Species protection is important – but it must work with the people who maintain the cultural landscape.