The Cairngorms National Park Authority is to look into the potential for reintroducing beavers to the area next year.
A trial reintroduction project at Knapdale in Argyll is due to end in 2014 and beavers are also living wild in the River Tay catchment area.
The National Park has published a Cairngorms Nature Action Plan which includes a range of measures to ensure the area continues to be home to creatures such as red squirrels, Scottish wildcats, capercaillie, freshwater pearl mussels as well as looking into the possibility of reintroducing beavers and the Eurasian crane, which were once native to the Cairngorms.
National Park chief executive Grant Moir said the park had a rich landscape supporting rare plants, insects, birds and mammals. He said, “Working with partners to enhance and create new habitats is one of the key actions to ensure that this happens.
“Woodland expansion, enhancing and improving wetlands, creating more montane and juniper scrub and supporting high nature value farming will help to ensure these habitats are in good condition.”
Previously the Insh marshes near Kingussie have been mooted as a possible re-introduction site for beavers.