Biber under pressure: Conflicts by return in Offenbach and the surrounding area!

in Offenbach, the return of wild animals, especially the beaver, leads to conflicts in densely populated areas. In the landscape protection area, a beaver has built a dam that flooded meadow and arable land. This intervention has triggered concern with residents and authorities.

Unknowns have destroyed the beaver dam, which leads to considering possible groundwater pollution. The German forest youth Heusenstamm warns of the pollutant wastewater that could get into the Bieberbach. In Mühlheim, traces of Pfas in raw water have already been detected, near the flood area.

reaction of the authorities and residents

Melvin Mika, head of the forestry office, emphasizes that interventions on the Biberdamm are punishable. In Seligenstadt, the tree population has changed due to the floods by the beaver. The municipalities around Rodau and Bieber welcome the return of the beaver, but see little options for action in the problems that occur.

The cities have dealt with the topic in the Rodau-Bieber working group and plan to contact the Ministry of the Environment. The protection of the beaver currently has priority, but drinking water protection and traffic safety must also be taken into account. In other federal states, there are already opportunities to resort beavers. The AG plans to re-grasp the topic with the beaver representative of the regional council, such as op-online.de

The discussion about the beaver is not new. According to igb-berlin.de , the beaver is a key species, the resettlement of which can have long-term effects on ecosystems. It is emphasized that the return of key species such as the beaver, wolf or wisent can restore important processes and ecosystem functions. At the same time, however, the beaver polarizes between agricultural/forestry and nature conservation, which illustrates the challenges when dealing with this kind.