Beavers are set to be released into the waters around Loch Ness, 500 years after they were last recorded there.
NatureScot has approved the release of up to 15 beavers over three years at agreed sites in the River Ness catchment.
Their assessment concluded that beavers could "significantly boost biodiversity" in the catchment, with the landscape at "low risk of negative impacts from beaver activity."
Beavers were first reintroduced to Scotland in 2009 after being hunted to extinction about 400 years ago.
The licence has been granted to Trees for Life and the Beaver Trust.
They said the last widely-cited historical record of Scotland's beavers, dating from 1526 to 1527, placed them around Loch Ness.
The River Ness catchment was identified by NatureScot in 2022 as one of the most suitable locations in Scotland for the rodents.
NatureScot said responses to the applicants' consultation process were positive, with more than 73% of respondents supportive.
NatureScot's Robbie Kernahan said: "Beavers can bring many benefits for nature and people, creating habitats such as ponds and wetlands where other species thrive, as well as moderating water flows in times of flood and water scarcity."
Kernahan added: "We have assessed the monitoring and mitigation plans set out by the applicants and believe that, along with our existing beaver mitigation scheme, any potential conflicts that may arise can be resolved."
NatureScot said any beavers released would be trapped and taken from areas where they were having a negative impact on prime agricultural land and where mitigation measures had not been successful or possible.
The beavers will undergo appropriate health screening before being released.
Alan McDonnell, from Trees for Life, said: "Beavers are key allies in tackling the interconnected climate and biodiversity crises facing us all, so this successful result brings real hope for the future.
"There has been huge interest from communities and local businesses.
"Our engagement has been locally focused, with the team meeting people on the ground to listen to their views first hand."