In the Brdy Mountains of southwestern Czech Republic, a protected landscape area has remained undeveloped, preserving its natural beauty. Recently, local authorities reported significant cost savings thanks to wild European beavers who built a dam, aiding a wetland restoration project.
The Brdy Mountains, stretching about 60 km southwest of Prague, are one of the largest forested areas in the Czech Republic. Designated as a military area in 1925, it remained undeveloped because of military exercises. In 2016, much of this area was converted into a protected landscape zone, now popular for hiking and forest bathing.
The project was proposed in 2018 to build a small dam to restore wetlands, with a budget of 30 million Czech koruna (~$1.9 million). However, wild beavers in the area built the dam themselves, saving the project costs.
Zoologist Jiri Vlček noted that beavers can build a dam in one or two nights, while human construction would take at least a week. Jaroslav Obermajer of the Czech Nature Conservation Agency praised the new wetlands for providing excellent habitats for various species.
However, Karolína Šůlová, a spokesperson for the agency, warned that beaver dams can sometimes cause flooding, as seen in British Columbia, Canada, where beavers chewed through underground cables, disrupting internet services.
Viewer Comments:
They’re like little magical workers, getting things done.
I wish they could finish my work in one night.
Maybe construction companies should ditch the machines and start keeping beavers.
Source:The government had been planning it for 7 years, beavers built the dam in two days and saved them $1 million
Comment