Leave It to Beavers: Nature’s EcoEngineers Build Climate Resilient Landscapes | Dynamic Planet

After a California forest was burned by a wildfire, one large parcel of land was left unscathed, thanks to a beaver.

In this clip, students meet two eco-hydrologists who study the ecosystem engineering skills of beavers in fire-prone landscapes. The researchers measure moisture and biodiversity in the untouched parcel and keep track of post-fire recovery radiating from the beaver’s management area.

Students will be asked to think about the resilience these beavers bring to the ecosystems they inhabit and the ways in which these animals can inspire humans to restore nature-based solutions to fire-prone landscapes.

About the Author
Walter Sams is an educator with a passion for getting students outdoors and engaged in the world around them. He teaches middle school science in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and relishes the opportunity to connect people with their natural counterparts. After more than a decade working as a naturalist all over the United States, he moved to Milwaukee, where he graduated from the University of Wisconsin to make his way into formal classrooms.