After 400 years, beavers are being reintroduced to west London, England. Many people are wondering: why beavers? According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), beavers are key to combating climate change.

Beavers used to be common in England, but in the 16th century, they were hunted to the point of extinction. This was due to the desire for beaver fur, meat, and glands (used as food flavoring).

Today, wildlife preservation groups were given $43,000 by the mayor of London to create ecosystems for the beavers. This plan is known as the Ealing Project, and its goal is to rehabilitate the biodiversity in London, starting with the beaver wetlands.

The beavers help reverse climate change through their habitats. The United Nations found that conserved habitats decrease the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This leads to fewer greenhouse gasses, which trap less heat and prevent further global warming.

Due to their many benefits, the Ealing Project is very excited to have beavers and is expecting a breeding pair to come to London during the fall of 2023.

In addition to the Ealing Project, there are 21 other London projects that aim to fix climate change through the introduction of new species and their biodiverse habitats. These projects include numerous different animals from bats to bees. These 22 projects hope to restore 286 acres of wildlife habitats to the city, and almost $2 million has been allocated toward the cause. 

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, expressed his optimism about the new wildlife preservation strategies.

"Despite the harm inflicted on the natural world, we have the power to make amends, and I am committed to ensuring that London is at the vanguard of efforts to reverse the trends of declining biodiversity and the destruction of nature. Rewilding allows nature to take the lead and is an exciting way to create healthier ecosystems and allow humans and wildlife to live together more harmoniously,” Khan said.