Overview
Roger has just completed a PhD looking into the human dimensions of reintroducing the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) to England. This included exploration of both potential opportunities and conflicts that may arise. His work included a nationwide survey of attitudes towards beaver reintroduction, followed by a series of focused studies within the catchment of the River Otter Beaver Trial (which concluded in 2020). These include: interview research with individuals who reported conflicts between beavers and agriculture or land/property; Q-methodology research into the perspectives of the angling community within the River Otter catchment; a mixed methods investigation into beaver tourism in the lower Otter. He also contributed towards a collaborative literature review on beaver impacts, and in a separate study used Q-Method to explore human perspectives of the role of beaver in natural flood management, among communities living downstream of beavers at three sites in England.
Roger also undertook a qualitative survey of the experiences of River Otter Beaver Trial Steering Group stakeholders, and defined the concept of Renewed Coexistence; "...coexistence that is specifically associated with a reintroduced species, thereby one which was present in the landscape historically, but which will likely be a ‘new’ presence for the humans living in the locality post-release".
Roger was a member of the River Otter Beaver Trial Science & Evidence Forum which collaboratively produced the final Science & Evidence Report. Following this, the UK Government announced in August 2020 that the River Otter beavers are legally permitted to remain and disperse naturally. Natural England recently undertook a consultation on a proposed national approach to beaver reintroduction and management in England, the result of which is expected to be released later in 2022. Roger recently completed an additional short research project for Natural England, capturing lessons from Beaver Management Groups in Devon. This will contribute to the evidence base for Natural England decision-making, and is due to be published in the next month or so.
Roger is now working on an EU Interreg funded project, exploring the engagement of end users and stakeholders during the development of two coastal adaptation projects; the Lower Otter Restoration Project (Devon, UK) and Saâne Territorial Project (Normandy, France). This involves a documentary evaluation of historical engagement, interviews with project partners, and social learning workshops with members of the local communities. The findings will contribute to a work package for the wider EU Interreg Cross-Channel 'Promoting Adaptation to Changing Coasts' initiative.
Additionally, he has a personal interest in marine conservation. He completed his BSc Zoology research project on the patterns of turtle stranding in Northern Cyprus, where he also volunteered through two nesting seasons with the Marine Turtle Conservation Project at Alagadi (Northern Cyprus). He previously volunteered with AK Wildlife Cruises, and enjoys outdoor swimming.
Supervisors:
Professor Richard Brazier
Professor Stewart Barr
Funding:
Roger's PhD was funded by the University of Exeter, Devon Wildlife Trust, Plymouth City Council, and Cornwall Wildlife Trust. His research contributes towards the South West Partnership for Environmental and Economic Properity (SWEEP). Additionally, the nationwide attitude survey was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council.
Broad research specialisms:
Renewed Coexistence, Wildlife Reintroduction, Human Dimensions, Perceptions, Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber); Engagement
Qualifications
PhD: Renewed Coexistence: Human dimensions of reintroducing Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) into England
MSc Conservation Science & Policy
BSc (Hons) Zoology
Links
Research group links
Publications
Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year
Key publications
Brazier RE, Elliott M, Andison E, Auster RE, Bridgewater S, Burgess P, Chant J, Graham H, Knott E, Puttock AK, et al (2020).
River Otter Beaver Trial: Science & Evidence Report. Devon, River Otter Beaver Trial.
Author URL.
Auster R, Puttock A, Brazier R (2019). Unravelling perceptions of Eurasian beaver reintroduction in Great Britain.
AREA Full text.
Publications by category
Journal articles
Auster RE, Barr SW, Brazier RE (2022). Beavers and flood alleviation: Human perspectives from downstream communities.
Journal of Flood Risk Management Full text.
Auster RE, Barr SW, Brazier RE (2022). Renewed coexistence: learning from steering group stakeholders on a beaver reintroduction project in England.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH,
68(1).
Author URL.
Auster RE, Barr S, Brazier R (2020). Alternative perspectives of the angling community on Eurasian beaver (<i>Castor fiber</i>) reintroduction in the River Otter Beaver Trial.
Journal of Environmental Planning and Management,
64(7), 1252-1270.
Full text.
Brazier RE, Puttock A, Graham HA, Auster RE, Davies KH, Brown CML (2020). Beaver: Nature's ecosystem engineers.
WIREs Water,
8(1).
Full text.
Auster RE, Barr SW, Brazier RE (2020). Improving engagement in managing reintroduction conflicts: learning from beaver reintroduction.
Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 1-22.
Full text.
Auster RE, Barr SW, Brazier RE (2020). Wildlife tourism in reintroduction projects: Exploring social and economic benefits of beaver in local settings.
Journal for Nature Conservation,
58, 125920-125920.
Full text.
Auster R, Puttock A, Brazier R (2019). Unravelling perceptions of Eurasian beaver reintroduction in Great Britain.
AREA Full text.
Reports
Brazier RE, Elliott M, Andison E, Auster RE, Bridgewater S, Burgess P, Chant J, Graham H, Knott E, Puttock AK, et al (2020).
River Otter Beaver Trial: Science & Evidence Report. Devon, River Otter Beaver Trial.
Author URL.
Publications by year
2022
Auster RE, Barr SW, Brazier RE (2022). Beavers and flood alleviation: Human perspectives from downstream communities.
Journal of Flood Risk Management Full text.
Auster RE, Barr SW, Brazier RE (2022). Renewed coexistence: learning from steering group stakeholders on a beaver reintroduction project in England.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH,
68(1).
Author URL.
2021
Auster R (2021). Renewed Coexistence: Human dimensions of reintroducing the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) into England.
Abstract:
Renewed Coexistence: Human dimensions of reintroducing the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) into England
Coexistence is the adaptive but sustainable behaviour of humans and animals living together, which can be beneficial for humans. Conflicts can occur between humans and wildlife or among humans about wildlife which require effective and socially acceptable management solutions to achieve coexistence. Wildlife reintroduction is where species are returned to landscapes where they previously existed but are no longer present. A knowledge of how to anticipate and address conflicts in reintroduction scenarios would aid the development of sustainable solutions in this unique coexistence context, as would an understanding of how social benefits occur and can be maximised post-reintroduction. Further, understanding how reintroduction governance compares to the governance of coexistence with species that are already present would help aid the integration of reintroduced species into anthropogenic landscapes. In this thesis, these questions are addressed with a pragmatic, mixed-methods approach to investigating the human dimensions of Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) reintroduction in England. Informed by a foundational nationwide attitudinal survey, the research consists of a series of studies: two of potential conflicts, two of social benefits, and one exploring the experiences of stakeholders involved in a reintroduction project. The thesis finds: 1) potential conflicts can be anticipated and addressed with early and appropriate engagement, and by seeking to understand social attitudes towards potential management solutions beyond just reintroduction itself; 2) social benefits occur naturally to some extent, but are greatest where there is active investment in the opportunities; 3) lessons from existing literature can be applied to governance of coexistence with reintroduced species, but key differences arise from the ‘future-thinking’ needed in reintroduction. The thesis concludes reintroduction is both an ecological and social science, and defines ‘Renewed Coexistence’ as coexistence between a species which was formerly resident and humans in the locality today to whom the species is a ‘new’ presence.
Abstract.
Full text.
2020
Auster RE, Barr S, Brazier R (2020). Alternative perspectives of the angling community on Eurasian beaver (<i>Castor fiber</i>) reintroduction in the River Otter Beaver Trial.
Journal of Environmental Planning and Management,
64(7), 1252-1270.
Full text.
Brazier RE, Puttock A, Graham HA, Auster RE, Davies KH, Brown CML (2020). Beaver: Nature's ecosystem engineers.
WIREs Water,
8(1).
Full text.
Auster RE, Barr SW, Brazier RE (2020). Improving engagement in managing reintroduction conflicts: learning from beaver reintroduction.
Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 1-22.
Full text.
Brazier RE, Elliott M, Andison E, Auster RE, Bridgewater S, Burgess P, Chant J, Graham H, Knott E, Puttock AK, et al (2020).
River Otter Beaver Trial: Science & Evidence Report. Devon, River Otter Beaver Trial.
Author URL.
Auster RE, Barr SW, Brazier RE (2020). Wildlife tourism in reintroduction projects: Exploring social and economic benefits of beaver in local settings.
Journal for Nature Conservation,
58, 125920-125920.
Full text.
2019
Auster R, Puttock A, Brazier R (2019). Unravelling perceptions of Eurasian beaver reintroduction in Great Britain.
AREA Full text.
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