Eradication of beaver (Castor Canadensis) an ecosystem engineer and threat to southern Patagonia

MALMIERCA, L; MENVIELLE, MF; RAMADORI, D; SAAVEDRA, B; SAUNDERS, A; SOTO, N; SCHIAVINI, ADRIÁN

Island invasives: eradication and management

IUCN

Lugar: Gland; Año: 2011; p. 87 - 90

Beavers threaten ecosystems of global importance in southern Patagonia, causing significant impacts on biodiversity. Introduced in 1946, they have reached all the most important islands south of the Strait of Magellan and now are invading the Brünswick Peninsula, on the South American continent, occupying a total area of approximately 70,000 km2. After years of trying to promote beaver control by stimulating their commercial exploitation, the governments of Argentina and Chile agreed to redirect management efforts and to attempt to eradicate the species throughout its entire range in South America. As a first bi-national activity, a feasibility study, conducted by international experts, was jointly initiated, to assess the technical, ecological, economic, social and cultural feasibility of eradicating beavers over their entire range. This study indicated that eradication was justified and feasible, although several issues must be resolved before an eradication operation is implemented. Beaver eradication in southern South America presents unique challenges, as well as unique opportunities, to develop a new cooperative model to handle complex and global environmental problems.