Project description

In light of global climate change, floodings are expected to increase and notably in countries including the United Kingdom. (Roger et.al, 2022) With reference to The Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Research and Development Programme published in 2021, the estimated economic loss due to floodings between November 2019 and March 2020 were estimated to be about £333 million in the country.

Regarding carbon emissions, the Scottish Government’s greenhouse gas inventory from agriculture took up approximately 22% of Scotland’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, while the land use, land use change, and forestry (LULUCF) sector, including grazing, accounted for around 9%. The main sources of carbon emissions from agriculture in Scotland are namely enteric fermentation, manure management, and synthetic fertilisers. According to the historical Ordnance Survey Map from the National Library of Scotland, the agricultural industry along River Earn Catchment has settled since 1700s, affecting the soil, landscape appearance and native habitat.

There are voices demanding to bring the extinct species – Eurasian beaver - back to the country to control flooding, enhance water quality and restore native habitats. In Edinburgh-wide, public support for their re-introduction was evident, when people marched in protest following a refusal to the release of European beavers in Knapdale (Coles, 2012) This research will focus on the collaboration model between humans and beavers, with a view to explore the opportunities and threats of flooding in the River Earn Catchment.

Recalibration drawing of River Earn Catchment
The dynamic system - Landscapes created by beavers

The series of dynamic drawings indicates changes in the natural landscape and wetland habitats created by beavers, for instance, the growth of animals, plants and fungi species, an increase in underground water storage and soil recovery, and also enhanced support in woodland development and habitat monitoring by humans. Imagine humans may not intaking meats in the future, fields for grazing and barley/wheat can be reduced as we no longerprovide food for livestock. More fields can be occupied for wetland development.

Beavers' perspective drawing expand
Beavers' perspective drawing
Human perspective drawing in wetland expand
Human perspective drawing in wetland
Beaver dam development expand
Beaver dam development
The More than Human Perspective

The concept of Umwelt was suggested by Jakob von Uexkull, an idea “he criticised for applying a universal, objectifying perspective in which all non-human animals appear as nothing more than machine-like objects.” (Schroer,2019) He also argued that all animals - no matter how simple or complex they were - had to be understood as subjects and that the environment they lived in, was made meaningful through their specific ways of perceiving and interacting with their worlds, i.e. their Umwelt. In other words, Umwelt refers to the unique perspective and sensory world of each organism. In biology and philosophy, the term is used to describe the subject experience of an organism, especially how it interacts and distinguishes itself from the natural world. It is a scientific way of understanding animals’ behaviour, as well as for broader philosophical discussions on the nature of perception and consciousness. Since” Umwelt” is dependent on an organism’s sensory organs,cognitive abilities and nervous system, the concept differs between species. In biology, it has been applied in the study of animal behaviours to ascertain how animals perceive and respond to the environment. For instance, beavers are nocturnal animals that have poor eyesight due to the lack of tapetum lucidum in their eyes, which explains their slow movement on land, rarely more than 20 feet from the water. Beavers rely heavily on their sense of smelling and hearing, therefore are usually attentive to the scents of plants and their predators.

The Future Calendar between Species
The future collaboration model

Every species is born to be unique in support of the complex dynamic system on Earth. The interrelation between species provides an opportunity for the co-creation of future landscapes. Unlike other living species, we are gifted with creativity and the use of language, and thus have the responsibility to respect the needs and well-being of non-human species. Even though we have the ability of decision-making in allocating resources, treating organisms as a tool of egoism is not applicable to archiving the goal of coexistence. While we utilise others' strengths, we should also embrace their weakness.

Future approach expand
Future approach between humans and beavers
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