The beaver was a natural part of our nature until the mid-18th century, when it was extirpated due to overhunting. After successful reintroduction programmes carried out in neighboring countries, the beaver reappeared on our territory in the 1970s. Its numbers are increasing, and in many places it has gone from an admired returnee to an unwelcome neighbor. During its activities, the beaver often floods farmland. While this causes inconvenience for the owners, it also contributes to the retention of much-needed water in the landscape.
For several years, Doc. Tomáš Dostál and Ing. Martin Dočkal, Ph.D., from the Department of Landscape Water Conservation, together with other colleagues, have been working on how conflicts with beavers can be prevented in the context of landscape management or how to reduce the negative consequences of their natural behavior so that coexistence with humans is as smooth as possible. In the interview, we will learn, among other things, what techniques can be used to limit flooding of large areas due to robust dams.