A rewilding charity says it is “mystified” its plan to release beavers in a Highland glen have been delayed.
Moray-based Trees for Life has been working with Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) on the Glen Affric proposal for the past two years.
Scotland’s nature body NatureScot said it had delayed granting a licence for the reintroduction due to “considerable concern” in the local community.
Trees for Life chief executive Steve Micklewright said: “This is an astonishing move by NatureScot.”
The glen is a large area of thickly wooded hillsides and glens with a river, streams and lochs south of Inverness.
It includes fragments of ancient Caledonian Forest.
Legal releases of beavers have already taken place in Knapdale in Argyll and parts of the Cairngorms National Park in the Highlands.
FLS applied for a licence in January for the release of beavers at Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin this spring.
NatureScot said it had decided to delay due to concerns among farmers, crofters and fisheries organisations.
It said further consultation would be held on the plan.
Chris Donald, NatureScot’s head of operations for Central Highland, said: “We recognise the significant efforts that have been made by FLS, Trees for Life and partners to consult with local communities and stakeholders.
“It is clear, however, that there remains considerable concern about the proposal among the local community and its representatives.”
Trees for Life’s Mr Micklewright said: “After two years of exhaustive consultations that far exceeded the requirements set out by NatureScot and that they have described as exemplary, one has to ask, what more is there to consult on?”
“NatureScot’s mystifying lack of backbone in the face of the nature and climate emergencies betrays so many people in the community who have engaged with this process in good faith and want the hope and renewal beavers would bring.”
Beavers died out in Scotland about 400 years ago but were reintroduced at a site in Argyll in 2009.
Conservation organisations say beaver activity can improve water quality and wetland habitats and also help to alleviate flooding.
But in the Cairngorms there has been criticism from farmers and crofters.
They said a proper consultation was not held ahead of the releases in the national park.
