Nature's engineers: How beavers restore wetlands

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After being hunted to extinction in Britain in the 16th century, beavers are making a comeback. In the process the semi-aquatic rodents are helping to restore valuable wetland ecosystems.

Known as nature's engineers, beavers restore wetland habitats through dam-building and felling trees, while slowing, storing and filtering water in their habitat, which attracts other wildlife and reduces flooding downstream.

The UK has lost 90 percent of its wetland habitats over the past 100 years. These waterlogged environments are rich in biodiversity and the loss has led to a drastic decline of wildlife. They are also important in countering the effects of extreme weather conditions, storing and absorbing the water flow during floods and storms.

In this edition of RAZOR, CGTN's Guy Henderson heads to Devon to see beavers flourishing in English rivers.

Derek Gow, a key figure in rewilding beavers, reveals the difference they have made to his land. As the former farm was being transformed, Gow also introduced a number of other lost British species, turning it into a biodiversity hotspot. Recent changes to legislation mean the beaver now has protected status in England, as it does in Scotland and Europe.

Nature's engineers, restoring wetlands and protecting from extreme weather: RAZOR

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