The man who paved the way for the trial reintroduction of beavers into Scotland has been made an OBE in the New Year Honours list.
Allan Bantick was chairman of the Scottish Wildlife Trust for six years until earlier this year.
He said yesterday: “I am absolutely thrilled. This is a great honour for me and my family. It is a reflection of two decades working for wildlife conservation in Scotland.”
During his time at the head of the organisation, the 75-year-old was also the founding chairman of the Scottish Beaver Trial.
The five-year project was held in Knapdale Forest in mid-Argyll, where the animals still remain.
The arrival of the nocturnal rodents from the Telemark region of Norway in the spring of 2009 marked the first time beavers had lived in Scotland for more than 400 years.
Mr Bantick said his hope was that their return would be permanent.
“An environmentalist could wish for no better epitaph than to be considered the person who led the formal reintroduction of beavers to the UK,” he added.
Mr Bantick, who has lived in Boat of Garten, in the Cairngorms National Park, also paid tribute to his wife Heather for her support during his various travels for the trust.
The couple have a daughter, Lesley, and four grandchildren.
Mr Bantick also sits on the board of the Biffa Award, which funds community projects across Scotland, and is on the advisory board of Scottish Badgers.
He spent 20 years in the RAF and a further 20 as a record producer, working with a range of well-known musicians.