Wody Polskie has submitted an application to destroy beaver dams and remove their burrows in Pomorskie Voivodeship, which may lead to significant implications for local wildlife.
In August 2025, Wody Polskie submitted an application to the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Gdańsk, seeking permission to destroy a large number of beaver dams across 160 locations in the Pomorskie Voivodeship. The proposal also includes the removal and plugging of beaver burrows as well as acoustic harassment to drive the animals away. This initiative could potentially lead to the extermination of beavers in the entire voivodeship.
The application does not specify the total number of dams targeted but lists specific waterways where the actions are planned. The removal of beaver habitats raises serious environmental concerns, including the disruption of local ecosystems that depend on beaver activity for maintaining wetland areas. The methodology for acoustic harassment is vague, raising questions about how this will be practically implemented and its humane aspects.
As of now, the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection has yet to make a decision on this application. The proposed activities have sparked debates among environmentalists and local communities, considering the importance of beavers in biodiversity and ecosystem stability. There is a pressing need for dialogue about wildlife conservation versus infrastructural developments in the region.
