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Book identity sheet
Ben Goldfarb is an environmental journalist and writer, already well known for his work on human-wildlife interactions. The French edition will be published by Actes Sud, in the "Mondes sauvages" collection, in early February 2026, with a preface by Baptiste Morizot, a philosopher deeply committed to the relationship between living beings.
Central idea
The book is based on a strong thesis: the beaver is not simply a "rodent that makes dams", but a "keystone" species that shapes the landscape and conditions the lives of many other species. By building dams, canals and pools, it creates complex wetlands that slow down water, store carbon, diversify habitats and literally transform a straight waterway into a living mosaic.
Beavers and climate
Goldfarb emphasizes the role of beavers as allies in the face of global warming. Their dams help to: retain water in times of drought, mitigate high water and flooding, recharge groundwater, limit megafires by maintaining buffer wetlands, and provide refuges for hundreds of endangered species.
Style and approach
The tone is lively and often humorous, with many anecdotes from the field and portraits of "beaver believers" (scientists, managers, activists) working to bring back the beaver. The narrative is accessible, combining reportage, popular science and political reflection on the way our societies manage water and perceive troublesome animals.
Political and practical dimensions
A common thread running through the book is the question: what happens if we let beavers work with us rather than against us? Goldfarb discusses conflicts of use (agriculture, infrastructure, private property) and presents concrete solutions: devices to manage water levels, areas dedicated to beavers, a change of perspective in public water policies.
For what type of reader?
The book is aimed at anyone interested in ecology, river renaturation, water management or the question of living things in town and country. If you like tales in which an ordinary animal becomes the gateway to rethinking our landscapes and our policies, you'll find a wealth of knowledge, inspiring stories and a discreet but powerful plea to live differently with the non-human.
The âeuros beaver effect Lessons from a builder of worlds
- Author: Ben Goldfarb
- Foreword: Baptiste Morizot
- Publisher: Actes sud
- Publication date: 04/02/2026
- Collection: Mondes Sauvages
- Number of pages: 384
- Format: 13.70 x 23.10 x 2.90 cm
- Public price: 23 euros
