How Czech beavers saved the government
Tim Umphreys, Unsplash
In the Brdy region of the Czech Republic, a dam project costing more than $1 million has stalled. It took seven years of planning, but the necessary permits were never obtained. In January, residents suddenly discovered that the problem had been solved - the dam had already been built, but not by humans, but by beavers.
These semi-aquatic rodents use branches, mud and rocks to create natural ponds that provide shelter for a multitude of species, from insects and fish to moose and cranes. Their structures control flooding, store carbon, and even protect against forest fires.
Experts note that beavers can create a reservoir overnight, but a real dam takes several weeks to build - the process was probably just overlooked until it was complete.
Studies show that beaver dams filter heavy metals and pollution better than multi-million dollar sewage treatment plants. California and Oregon are even building artificial analogues of beaver dams to attract these natural engineers.
The Czech authorities could have demolished the structure and continued the bureaucratic processes, but instead recognised the ecological value of the dam and left it as is.
"The beavers did a great job," local environmentalists admit, confirming that sometimes nature does a better job than humans.
