2022/1 Conseil International de la Chasse et de la Conservation du Gibier Internationaler Rat zur Erhaltung des Wildes und der Jagd International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation
CIC Administrative Office:
TABLE OF CONTENTS EDITORIAL 5 FOCUS 7 GENERAL ASSEMBLY 10 INTERNATIONAL EVENTS 26 MEDIA & PUBLICATIONS 36 WILDLIFE WATCH 44 CELEBRATIONS 50 ANNOUNCEMENTS 54
the introduction of numerous lőexciting communications campaigns which were announced over the course of the General SomeAssembly.ofthese
It is for these reasons that I am excited about the future direction of the CIC. If you would like to gain more insight into where we may be heading, I invite you to look through the cont ents of this latest edition of the CIC Magazine.
Editorial
A lot has happened since the last edition of the CIC Magazine. This is true both for the CIC as an organisation, and the wider world that we live Thisin.publication
the CIC Marketing Brochurewhich you can see inside - now provides us with a vehicle to promote the values and work of the CIC with our partners, friends and potential Wecollaborators.alsosaw
initiatives will be funded through several sizable donations which were made by a number of long-standing and dedicated members of the CIC, to whom I am extremely thankful. You will be hearing more about these activities in the coming months, so please keep an eye on our website and other communica tions channels.
Dr. Philipp Harmer President of the CIC
the key biodiversity conservation issues in today’s Furthermore,world.
summarises our work over the past few months, while placing a particular focus on the activities that took place during the 68th General Assembly in Riga. As you may know, the decision to go ahead with the General Assembly as planned was in part taken to support our colleagues and partners across the Baltic region.
Looking back at the uncertain time at the beginning of the year, I could not be more grateful that we held firm on hosting the event in Riga. Spirits were high amongst all participants and the discussions were fruitful, once again showing how hunting can act as a unifying force in difficult times.
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Dear Friends and Members of the CIC,
In many ways, the General Assembly left us with a clearer vision of the CIC’s future. The theme for the conference was communications, but what emerged from the discussions was the equal importance of strengthening the founda tions of our organisation.
Approving the new CIC Statutes was the first step in achieving this goal. In addition to leading the CIC into the 21st century, the statu tes will assist in narrowing our focus on
Firstly, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone that came to the General Assembly, and for the kind words that I have since heard about the proceedings. To those of you that were unable to travel, I hope we were able to capture the essence of the discussions that took place in this edition of the magazine.
68th CIC General Assembly Conserve - Convene - Communicate 9-12 June, 2022 Riga, Latvia Hunter & Co. Your hunting app
Photo gallery
FOCUS
GeneralSummaryAssemblyVideo
Once an identity has been determined, the re is of course the need to shape a narrative around values and actions.
IDENTITY AND NARRATIVE – THE PILLARS OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS SUMMARY OF THE 68TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CIC
Going into the event, there was the assump tion that most of the discussions would be centred around the practicalities surround ing communications campaigns and activiti es - the tools we should be using, the audien ces we should be targeting, and the channels needed to convey our message.
We all want to be more effective in sharing our message, while having our message be heard by a bigger audience.
It was with this in mind that the 68th General Assembly was hosted in Riga, Latvia under the theme of communications, and the motto “Conserve – Convene – Communicate”.
Instead, what transpired was far from this ex pectation. What was made abundantly clear was that while most speakers and panellists va lued the importance of communications, they placed a greater emphasis on its foundations.
There is perhaps no bigger topic of conversation in conservation circles than communi cations.
The world’s foremost thinkers and practitio ners working in conservation, sustainable use and beyond congregated in Riga to engage in discussions on this topic that looked to shape the future of the wildlife sector.
Social media, likes and engagement are ter ms that we are looking to understand and use to our advantage. Managing resources and determining where they can be best utilised across different communication platforms is a task that all organisations will be familiar with.
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“Utilising communications tools in the 21st century” was created to examine modern tools, their application and use. And finally, “What can we learn from across the table?” looked to
The need to be proactive in creating a na-
In regards to identity, concepts such as integ rity and image were mentioned as areas to focus on. Integrity built through mechanisms such as certification standards or through as sociation with neutral partners, as well as an image improved through engaging in huma nitarian work or by giving others – and not yourself – a platform to speak.
This idea was best summed up by Dr. Zoltán Kovács, Hungarian State Secretary for Inter national Communication and Relations, who suggested that identity and narrative are first required to communicate any message.
draw ideas from other industries that could be applied to wildlife conservation.
The Technical Sessions were set up as the main facilitator of these discussions. “Wildlife Management in the Baltic Region” sought to give participants an insight into the management practices in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, as well as their approach to communications.
Marc de Beaufort, CEO of Idafield, presented a new CIC initiative - Nature’s Kee pers - which may help achieve just that. The premise is to create content that showcases the work done by hunters, and those adjacent to hunting, to preserve and restore nature.
rrative was a point that emerged several times throughout the proceedings. Sharing real success stories, while not allowing media outlets to shape their own version of affairs, were among the key outcomes of note.
Creating content that presents hunting and sustainable use through this new lens then gives greater opportunities to communica te messages that are more likely to engage, influence and impact new audiences.
A case study from Estonia served as the per fect example to show how identity and nar rative can work for the benefit of sustainable use. While hunters historically had a negative image within the country, their work in hel ping to address African Swine Fever helped to gain favour amongst both the government and local residents.
A difficult task, but one worth doing if we are to build a strong foundation for the future.
So where does this leave sustainable use orga nisations going forward? If communications is just a tool, then the primary goal should be to build our foundations first.
While ambitious, similar activities can be done as long as they follow the same core principle. Which is to first define the role and values that should be associated with hun ting.
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We asked some of the invited journalist to share their impression about hunters and hunting, as well as their take-aways from the conference.
The 68th General Assembly of the CIC kic ked off in the historic city of Riga, Latvia on 10 June, 2022.
Held under the theme of communications, and the motto “Conserve – Convene – Com municate,” the conference looked to explore the importance of communications in today’s world and answer questions such as:
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his thanks to the Governments of Latvia, Lit huania and Estonia, their national hunting associations, and all that facilitated the orga nisation of the General Assembly in Riga.
CIC President, Dr. Philipp Harmer, then set the scene by welcoming participants to the event, which came two years after the origi nal conference was planned for 2020. Refe rencing the theme, he emphasised that it is the duty of hunters to communicate with the public and to inform them of the services they provide to nature and society. The need
Themony.master of ceremony and CIC Director General, Tamás Marghescu, then extended
How do we communicate our successes? What types of messaging are most effective? And what can we learn from our allies and from those across the table?
68TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY: OPENING CEREMONY
To open the conference, the Central Military Band of the Latvian National Armed Forces played the CIC Hymn and a medley of the Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian national anthems during the official CIC Flag Cere
Exploring the intersection between conser vation and politics was Dr. Zoltán Kovács, Hungarian State Secretary for International Communication and Relations. “If you want things to remain the same, then things cannot remain the same” – this was the sentence put forward to sum up the current state of affairs for the sustainable use community. While it was dis cussed that we do indeed need to consider the importance of communications if we do not want to fall behind, a supplementary motto of “Awake – Adopt – Communicate” was suggested if we truly want things to remain the same. This was the approach recently used in Hungary, culminating in the “One with Nature” exhibition in Budapest last year,
As part of his closing remarks, he stated the CIC and like-minded organisations will lead the way in creating a renewed approach to conservation and communications, while emphasising the Hungarian Government’s intention to assist and share knowledge on how to carry out such activities.
The Opening Ceremony introduced themes and ideas that were explored further during the Technical Sessions that took place du ring the rest of the conference – see inside for more details and the outcomes from these sessions.
for hunters to adapt to modern times – dea ling with all forms of communications while adjusting their values – was stressed as a ne cessity going forward.
Taking the stage following this was H.E. Kaspars Gerhards, the Minister of Agriculture of Latvia. In his speech, he spoke about the conference motto, stating that effective communication is the key to success in both politics and legislation. The obvious changes to nature that we have seen in recent years was mentioned in parallel with the less visible, but equally impactful, changes we have seen in the digital environment, with all stakehol ders now having a responsibility to communi cate the role that hunting and sustainable use plays in managing wildlife resources.
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in which a renewed approach to conservation was adopted by the Hungarian Government.
Feliksas Miliutis (Lithuanian Hunters’ and Anglers’ Association) then took the stage to discuss the wildlife management policies in Lithuania, however, it was stated there are many similarities in approach across all three Populationcountries.
session, representatives from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia were invited to give participants a presentation on the wildlife management practices in their respective countries, as well as their approach to com munications in their work. The session was moderated by CIC Deputy Director Gene ral, Sebastian Winkler.
Linda Dombrovska (Latvia Hunters Soci ety) from Latvia opened by providing a brief overview of the Baltic region as a whole. It was stated that there are over 65,000 hunters
across the entire region, which covers an area of 175,228 km2. Common iconic hunted species include bear, lynx and wolves. Forests also cover a large percentage of the Baltics, with a cover of 50% in both Latvia and Es tonia. The role of hunting as a uniting force was also stressed, one that expands beyond borders and languages.
With the 68th General Assembly hosted in Latvia, we wanted to take this opportunity to shine a light on the wildlife management practices that are taking place in the Baltic
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management was a topic that reoccurred several times during the presen tation. In this regard, European beaver was
TECHNICAL SESSION I: WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT IN THE BALTIC REGION
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Another ongoing issue they are facing is related to the European bison. After being reintroduced, their numbers grew rapidly across the country, ultimately resulting in sig nificant damages to crops. Despite this, there is no prerequisite for damage compensation, due to the fact that bison is not a hunted spe cies. As a solution, translocation of bison to enclosures and other areas is being used to reduce their impact.
One example of a project designed to tackle human-wildlife conflict was the introduction of reflectors on roads, which create a wall of light once hit by a car’s headlights. This makes the presence of cars more visible to animals (such as deer), thereby reducing the likelihood of a vehicle collision.
Representing Estonia was Andres Lillemäe (Estonian Hunters Society), who outlined
are interested in more details, this ses sion can be viewed in full on the CIC You Tube Channel.
mentioned as a hunted species of note, due to the fact that beaver is protected under the Bern convention in many other countries. Some 100,000 beaver currently reside in Lithuania, requiring significant hunting activiti es to actively manage their numbers.
Hundreds of hectares of crops are also devastated by migratory wild birds every year; as it stands, the hunting of cranes and swans is prohibited, and wild geese can only be hunted in the autumn.
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some interesting projects carried out within the country, as well as the public’s shift in attitude towards the hunting community in recent years.
Another project that was successful in Es tonia was related to the regulation of small predators on the coastline. Bird populations were being devastated in these areas prior to the intervention; six hunting territories are now looking to manage small predator numbers for the benefit of these birds to great effect.
From a communications perspective, an interesting piece of insight shared with parti cipants was the reputation of hunters before and after the emergence of African Swine Fever. After the government and the public realised that hunters can play a key role in tackling the disease, their stance on hun ters and hunting itself shifted dramatically, causing them to be now viewed in a positive
Leclerc (Director General of Cor porate & Partner at JIN) suggested that shifting the focus away from the killing of animals, and instead to conservation and wildlife management, is the key to portray ing hunting in a positive light. Specifically, hunters were encouraged to tell the wider audience some hunting success stories – the collective action of French hunters who pre vented African Swine Fever from reaching Belgium was given as one possible example.
Moderating the session was Rob Yorke, Environmental dialogue broker and Rural commentator, who made reference to peo ple attributing the decline of biodiversity to hunting despite this being far from the truth. With this in mind, a question was posed to panellists: How can hunting reach people
with a new context that puts a focus on con Oneservation?theme
In today’s world, effectively communicating one’s messages is synonymous with organi sational success. This, however, brings into question how best to use modern communi cations tools, and their effectiveness in certain use cases.
This session was organised to explore this exact theme, with speakers invited to discuss their experiences with certain tools, and their use in communications campaigns.
that arose during the discussions was the type of storytelling that should be highlighted when communicating hunting Augustinactivities.
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TECHNICAL SESSION II: UTILISING COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS IN THE 21ST CENTURY
people is the lack of communication from hunters due to the fear of backlash. This was ultimately attributed to the media and the complex nature of conservation through sustainable use.
the media was another common thread that appeared during the session. Tristan Breijer (Senior Vice Presi dent of Hunter & Co. App.) spoke about the need to be proactive and clearly define what it is that they are defending. It was argued that the main problem when trying to reach
Providing a contrasting perspective was Marc de Beaufort (CEO of Idafield), who challenged the idea that the media is to blame for the negative portrayal of hunters. He emphasised that while it is true that the media is looking for controversial stories, it is up to the hunting community to push the true message of hunting by actively engaging with media outlets.
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If you are interested in more details, this ses sion can be viewed in full on the CIC YouTube Channel.
Expanding on this point by providing the perspective needed when also sharing the collective thoughts of local communities in tandem with sustainable use was Bupe Ban da (Community Leaders Network, Zambia). It was stated that telling the true story of lo cal communities is far more crucial than tell ing an attractive one. When looking to make effective policies, going to meet people in person was emphasised as essential for peo ple that are interested in voicing the needs of local Engagementcommunities.with
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(Chairman of Ark2030 Founda tion) argued that hunters need a brand change. The case study of Jersey was given as a success ful instance where a brand change was imple mented, in which the reputation was changed from a “tax haven” to an “international finan cial service centre.” It was put forward that working with an organisation such as Ark2030 - which collects funding from foundations, cor porations and other grant making bodies and deploys them into their “Eco System Restora tion Partners” - would assist with such a brand
her intervention, Deborah Vorhies (CEO of Fair Wild) emphasised the impor tance of integrity. Speaking on her experience
asked to draw on their experiences on these two Stephenelements.Fern
Duringchange.
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Organisations working in different fields will often use a wide range of communications strategies to best suit their vision and mission.
This session looked to compare and contrast the strategies employed by a variety of organi sations and sectors, while exploring how these strategies can be used to support wildlife con
He opened by noting that communications is simply a tool; a means to an end in order to achieve something. In order to effectively com municate, one needs both an identity and a na rrative first. With this in mind, speakers were
scene on the topic was Dr. Zoltán Kovács (Hungarian State Secretary for Inter national Communication & Relations) who moderated the session.
TECHNICAL SESSION III: WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM ACROSS THE TABLE?
Marghescu (CIC Director General) then spoke about the image of hunters, which has changed dramatically over the past years. While it was stated that change needs to hap pen, it was suggested that this change needs to come from within hunters themselves. The CIC’s recent efforts to support humanitarian efforts in aid of Ukraine was put forward as an example of this, with the news coverage reaching numerous countries and hundreds of
working with Fair Wild, a voluntary opt-in cer tification scheme for private sustainable wild plant collection operations, she stated that cer tification schemes allow for the validation of integrity across entire supply chains, thereby further promoting concepts of sustainability across a broader range of people and stakehol
the importance of bringing the voi ces of communities to policymakers in Europe
Lessons we have learnt from RigaDr. Zoltán Kovács
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Discussingoutlets.
was Stephan Wunderlich (German CIC De legation), who made reference to his expe rience working with the African community leaders. Prior to the 68th General Assembly, he and Bupe Banda (Community Leaders Net work) had travelled throughout Europe in an effort to bring the local voices to policymakers and decision makers. In this context, he mentioned that his role is to work as a vessel to bring important stories and narratives to the table.
If you are interested in more details, this ses sion can be viewed in full on the CIC You Tube Channel.
Tamásders.
The award was accepted by Bupe Banda (Community Leaders Network Zambia) –who participated in the conference as a spea ker – on behalf of Resource Africa.
The open letter was addressed to celebri ties in the UK, with the signatories urging them to stop undermining their conservation efforts and their right to sustainably use na tural Particularresources.topics
RESOURCE AFRICA RECEIVES 2022 CIC COMMUNICATIONS PRIZE
The video was selected by the prize commit tee for helping to shine a light on the realities faced by local communities across southern Africa.
The CIC extends it congratulations to Re source Africa, and welcomes others to follow their example in giving a voice to indigenous peoples and local communities in all areas of the globe.
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Resource Africa received the 2022 CIC Communications Prize for their short film “LET AFRICANS DECIDE OPEN LET TER,” during the Closing Ceremony of the 68th General Assembly.
that were addressed in the video included incentive-based conservation, habitat and population restoration, as well is sues related to human-wildlife conflict.
We are pleased to announce that the 2022 Hunting Auction was a resounding success thanks to the support of our loyal members and Despitedonors.theongoing
NEFAG
Francois Labet
Waffenhandel Christoph Tavernaro AGVPS / Florin Iordache, Ovidiu Ionescu, Mugurel Draganescu Bakonyerdő Zrt Estonian Hunters FINESTTRIGGERSociety
CharlesCarloBaronAlejandroSárkányAllendevonGemmingen-HornbergAlberto&GiovanniPejroneNelson&Paul-Emmanuel Kantor Claude CordeliaRosier&Rudolf Kräling
Latvian
47 items were available for bidding, which generated a sum of €123,657 in total!
H. Krieghoff GmbH Association „Užice” Forstwirtschaft GmbH „Jovan Šerbanović” Žagubica Safari Club Nagykunsági Erdészeti Faipari Zrt. NYÍRERDŐ Zrt.
Árpád
Danene van der Westhuyzen Dr. Imrich Šuba Dr. Philipp Harmer
Marc RagnarPhilippePhilippNorbertNicolasMichelNieuwenhuysMantheakisGraasVossenBurlaClaeysR.Jorgensen
The Hunting Auction continues to be an es sential pillar of the CIC, with all the proce eds being used to support the organisation’s ongoing work in biodiversity conservation.
This success would not have been possible without the active participation of our mem bers and donors. The CIC thanks all those who donated, many of whom were very open and flexible with the terms of the hunts that were on offer.
Jean and Bridget van Rijckevorsel
Young Opinion Board ZEISS
Sanja Momčilović Bognič Soňa Chovanová Supeková Stefan Boensch (wildlife artist)
SCI Helvetia Chapter / Antoine Spillmann AG & CO KG VERGA Zrt.
és
DONORS
HHK HungarianSAFARISFalconry Association Hunting
disruptions to events and international travel caused by the pandemic, we received many wonderful donations from our members throughout the year, all of whi ch were put on offer at our online Silent Auc tion and the Live Auction which took place at the 68th General Assembly in Riga.
Kisalföld
Swarovski-Optik
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George Aman Hugo Kotzé Ing. Milenko Zeremski Ing. Zivko Milovanov
Kostia Janssen / Trumpetters Drift Safaris
L.U.
We also extend our thanks to everyone who participated in the bidding process, especi ally the buyers with winning bids.
Toni Meggle
We are happy to announce the winners of the 2022 CIC Wildlife Photo Prize!
WINNERS OF THE 2022 CIC WILDLIFE PHOTO PRIZE!
In April earlier this year, we put out a call for photographers to participate in the competition, which was held in support of the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration and under the theme, “The Game for Restoration.”
Participants were tasked with submitting photos related to and depicting the restoration of wildlife populations and habitats.
A shortlist of photos selected by a jury were on display at the 68th General As sembly in Riga, where attendees were able to vote on their favourite submissions. After counting all of the votes, here are the final results.
ASKER IBNE FIROZ (1ST PLACE)
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Winning by a landslide majority was this photo of a Bengal tiger taken by Asker Ibne Firoz. The rare Bengal tiger was photographed in Sundarbans, Bangladesh following a population increase that was attributed to conservation and anti-poa ching measures implemented by the Forest Department of Bangladesh.
ANDRÁS GINDENBURG (2ND PLACE)
Coming in second place was András Gindenburg, who submitted this photo of a European hare taken in the Fejér county of Hungary. European hare populations increased by 25% in Hungary between 2017 – 2021 due to funding put towards ha bitat improvement projects.
RAFFI RYAN AKBAR (3RD PLACE)
Receiving the third highest number of votes was Raffi Ryan Akbar, for this orangutan photo taken in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. It depicts the work of the Bornean Orangutan Rescue Alliance (BORA), which rehabilitates orangutans that have been rescued from illegal wildlife trade operations and illegal pet ownership before they are released into the wild.
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Please donate using the QR code so that we can continue helping those in need in these difficult times.
Since 2 March, 2022 the CIC has been working to support humanitari an efforts to assist those impacted by the conflict in Ukraine.
To date, we have raised almost €350,000 and spent €298,000 directly on the purchase of food, goods and materials. €1,500 of this amount was raised during the “Dinner for Ukra ine” which was held during the 68th General Assembly in Riga.
Here is a summary outlining some of the activities we have been carrying out using your donations over the past several months.
HUNTERS PROVIDE SUPPORT IN TIMES OF CRISIS
€3,000 worth of medical equipment was purchased and transported to a hospital in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukrai ne, as well other locations in the eastern part of the country. Among the items included in the shipment were latex gloves, bandages, catheters, spon ges, cloths and more. Christopher Kowalewski – a CIC Member from Po land who has been coordinating efforts to assist refugees in his country – was also able to provide additional medici ne and blankets to the delivered goods.
generators were pur chased using CIC donations and sent for use in Ukraine. The generators were initially sent to Kiev, but were later moved to other critical areas. Some were transported to a hospital in Kharkiv, while the rest were sent to newly liberated areas that have limi ted or no access to infrastructure such as electricity and water.
The CIC is assisting the ongoing humanitarian efforts in collaboration with the National Hunting for Charity Organisation (OJV KNP Kft.), the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE) and the Hun garian Hunters’ National Chamber (OMVK).
POWER GENERATORS PUT TO GOOD USE IN SixUKRAINE5,500-watt
MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO BE TRANSPORTED INTO UKRAINE
A nine seater minibus, costing a total of €8,000, was purchased for use at the Hungarian border town of Záhony. This was in part funded through CIC donations (€3,000); the purchase was also sponsored by CIC Young Opinion Members, as well as several ot her generous contributors. The bus is used for the transport of refugees to accommodation sites, as well as to the city of Budapest. It is also utilised when moving goods to and from refugee support stations within Záhony.
SOUP AND A NINE SEATER MINIBUS IN USE AT THE HUNGARIAN BORDER
In addition, the CIC food distribution stand in Záhony – which has been operational since 7 March, 2022 – continues to serve hot food to refugees. Around 60-90 litres of soup is cooked and distributed on a daily basis.
100 BEDS AND 18,000 JUICE BOXES DONATED IN SUPPORT OF REFUGEES
In addition, long-time partner of the CIC, RAUCH (Austria), generously donated 18,000 juice boxes, which were handed out at the CIC food distribution station at the Hungarian border.
TRANSPORT TO GERMANY ORGANISED FOR REFUGEES
100 beds were kindly donated to the CIC by the Maltese Hos pital Service Austria, and put to immediate use at a welcome centre for refugees in Záhony. Foldable beds were among the many essential items that were requested as a matter of urgency by the local mayor.
CIC Member Graf Benedikt von Dürckheim-Montmartin and the German organisation, Ruricher Hilfswerk – OST e.V, hel ped coordinate free transport opportunities for Ukrainian re fugees travelling from Hungary to Würzburg, Germany. The CIC Administrative Office helped organise the first two rounds of transport, carrying some 90 individuals, before setting up a formal arrangement with a local Hungarian charity which now regularly organises transport via train for refugees travelling bet ween the two countries.
is a summary of each of the sessions, as well as the lessons learned from them.
FROMRURALITYLOCAL TO GLOBAL - PUTTING ASIDE OUR DIFFERENCES, BUILDING ALLIANCES
UNITING AGAINST MYTHS, ADVOCATING FOR TRUTHS
On 6 January, 2022 the International Coun cil for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) and Dallas Safari Club (DSC) jointly hosted the HUNT conference in Dallas (USA) wit hin the framework of the 2022 DSC Con
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or Hunters Unite Now & Tomor row, was organised to explore some of the most pressing issues in the world of hunting and sustainable use.
Tamás Marghescu (Director General, CIC) set the scene by giving the outcomes on this topic from the 67th CIC General Assembly. Despite their importance, it was found that rural stakeholders are misunderstood, and are involved in many internal conflicts. Alli ances in the rural sector were mentioned as being key to addressing these problems.
Three sessions were organised during the event, with each session attended by a number of experts working in the relevant topic
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This session sought to identify the issues as sociated with our rural areas and how they can be addressed.
HUNT,vention.
When discussing how to bridge the rural-ur ban divide, Sean McLelland (Executive Director, Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation) and Scot McClure (Director of Education, Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation) stressed the importance of education.
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
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STOP THE TROPHY NONSENSE, EXPOSE THE MYTHS
The impact of language and terminology was a major point of discussion here. Joh nson Ndokosho (Deputy Director, Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Forestry of Namibia) suggested that while international hunting is a critical part of Namibia’s wildlife management model, the term “trophy hun ting” remains controversial. Instead, they use the term “conservation hunting” – hunting with conservation in mind.
Mahoney added that international hunting is a more accurate term, as “trophy hunting” does not use adjectives that accurately describes hunting.
Understanding social dialogue and the role of policy in a world where empathy for ani mals is on the rise is arguably the biggest challenge for supporters of sustainable use.
The Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation does this by targeting young people and educating them on sustainable use issues through prac tical
to rural areas was also mentioned as a matter of significance, with Ronald J. Regan (Executive Director, Associ ation of Fish and Wildlife Agencies) suggest ing that many urbanites are unaware of how to participate in rural opportunities.
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Moderator Shane Mahoney (President & CEO, Conservation Visions. President, CIC Policy and Law Division) asked panellists how we can think of “trophy hunting” in a different way in order to adapt to this new world.
It was suggested that the traditional method of looking to fill education gaps with know ledge (i.e. the deficit model) is not working, as the facts do not align with people’s existing Therefore,values.
Goldman proposed the need for a new way of thinking that builds trust through honest engagement.
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Providing good narratives was brought up as another element to consider. Greg Simons (Principal/GM, Wildlife Systems, Inc.) ar gued that narratives should be relatable, with food given as an example.
CONSUME, COMMUNICATECONSERVE,
Karrie Meadows (Communication Mana ger, DSC) suggested that the hunting expe rience should be shared, through photos and descriptions, as a whole from beginning to end. Rob Nelson (Science communicator, Filmmaker) also highlighted the importance of positive messaging, both for organisations and Whenindividuals.lookingto
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of this, Jason G. Goldman (Science journalist) suggested that we need to reshape our approach to messaging.
communicate these messa ges, panellists agreed that messages should be aimed towards those in the middle ground that hold an open mind on the issues.
Effectively communicating with the outside world is important if we are to address the misinformation that surrounds sustainable
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The 28th FeHoVa Exhibition opened its doors in Budapest, Hungary on 17 Februa ry, 2022. The four-day event was dedicated to showcasing the environmental, scientific, cultural and entrepreneurial aspects related to the three core aspects of the exhibition: Hunting, Fishing and Weapons.
At the Opening Ceremony, Dr. Philipp Har mer, President of the CIC, gave a speech where he discussed the work of the CIC and the wider world of sustainable use. Particular mention was given to the CIC’s fo cus on the services that hunting offers to soci ety, with a special mention made to services such as: enhancing biodiversity, managing wildlife, providing nutrition and offering rec reation.
HUNTS FOR CHARITY, THE CIC TROPHY EVALUATION SYSTEM AND DEBUNKING THE MYTHS: FEHOVA 2022
The CIC typically has a strong presence at the annual international exhibition, and this year was no different.
Another significant program that took place at the Opening Ceremony was the presenta tion of the One with Nature (OWN) – World of Hunting and Nature Exhibition Badges of Honour, which were awarded to individu
which is also available in English, takes a look at some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding the topic of “trophy hunting”, while sharing substantia ted truths on the merits of international hunting, underpinned by real-life examples and scientific data.
the Opening Ceremony, the CIC hosted a main stage presentation on the CIC Trophy Evaluation System (TES), an inter national system created for monitoring and comparing hunting trophies from various species with species-specific, unified measurement parameters.
Imre Kovács, Certified CIC Measurer (CCM), took to the stage to give a talk on the history of the TES, the technical details re
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The badges were presented by the Hungari an State Secretary for International Commu nications and Relations (Kovács Zoltan), and introduced by the Deputy Editor in Chief of Nimród Magazine (Richárd Bors). The CIC Director General was the recipient of the Grade 1 Badge of Honour, the highest form of decoration available, for his professional and effective work in ensuring the success of FollowingOWN.
In addition to these live events, the CIC hos ted a stand as part of the exhibition, where visitors were able to learn about the organi sation’s work in nature conservation.
als that contributed towards the organisation of OWN which took place over September and October in Budapest last year.
As part of our activities there, the official Hungarian version of the Debunking the Myths brochure was debuted for visitors and Thepartners.brochure,
lated to measurement and its use in scientific Apursuits.demonstration of the measuring process was conducted as part of the presentation.
The Polish hosts, in collaboration with the FACE Secretariat, brought together excep tional speakers, resulting in a lively discus sion where participants were able to share experiences and exchange ideas on how to scale up action in times of crisis.
Through a combined effort, involving the mobilisation of a large network of hunters and conservation forces, close to one million Euros in materials and in-kind support has been distributed to where it was most nee ded. In addition, there are already prepara
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Heads and representatives from European national hunting federations and associa tions, as well as high-level public authoriti es, were finally able to meet in person at the FACE Members’ Meeting in Warsaw, Poland on 5-7 April after a two-year delay caused by the global pandemic and uncertainties sur rounding the war in Ukraine.
discussions included topics related to animal health, such as ASF in wild boar, bird flu, and the need to provide further support for migratory birds.
In a related discussion, participants also shared how hunting associations are playing a key role in every corner of the world to address the crises that society is facing.
UNITING HUNTERS TO RESPOND IN TIMES OF CRISIS: CIC JOINS FACE MEMBERS’ MEETING IN WARSAW
In parallel with biodiversity and climate related actions, education and awareness raisi ng efforts with regard to sustainable hunting were brought up as a matter of equal signifi Thecance.CIC extends its thanks to FACE for or ganising what was an excellent event, as well as the many attendees that were able to cont ribute to the insightful discussion that took place.
At the same time, it was noted that we should not lose sight of the importance of addressi ng long-term biodiversity and climate issues in support of the 2030 Biodiversity Strategy and the preparations for an EU legislation on Withinrestoration.thiscontext,
As part of the proceedings, Tamás Marghes cu – Director General of CIC – gave a pre sentation on the ongoing work by the CIC, FACE and the Hungarian National Hunting for Charity Organisation (OJV KNP Kft.) to support refugees arriving into the countries bordering Ukraine.
tions in place for post-war ecosystem restora tion efforts.
SCIENCE BASED DECISION MAKING AND STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION - THE KEYS TO MANAGING AFRICAN WILDLIFE
The event was also held in conjunction with the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC), the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE), Safari Club International (SCI), SCI Foundation (SCIF) and the European Landowners’ Organization (ELO).
The discussions at the conference centred around African conservation approaches, an appropriate topic given that certain ap proaches have been under scrutiny in recent times, with “trophy hunting” in particular the subject of many targeted campaigns.
“Is Africa being heard? Hunting, Conservation and Livelihoods” was organised by the EU Parlia ment’s Biodiversity, Hunting, Country Inter group. It was moderated by Dr. Ali Kaka, IUCN Regional Councillor, and jointly host ed by the Intergroup’s President, Álvaro Am aro MEP, and Vice President, Juan Ignacio Zoido MEP.
The world’s leading figures in conservation converged in Brussels on 26 April, 2022 to attend a conference on the management and conservation of African wildlife.
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evidence. Adding to this point was Ivonne Higuero, Secretary General of CITES, who underlined that it is the duty of CITES to consider a measure if it is supported by evi
Amaro set the scene on this is sue in his opening speech, where he stated that decisions should be based on scientific
MEPmaking.Álvaro
In a similar vein, we have seen communi ty representatives and stakeholders voicing concern on the introduction of policies that look to restrict a nation’s ability to manage their own wildlife resources.
Romero, Deputy Head of the Multilateral Environmental Cooperation Unit of the European Commission, outlined the impartial nature of the EU in regards to “trophy hunting,” due to their inherent reli ance on facts and knowledge. The flip side to this point of view was the perspective of African representatives. Here, a desire for stakeholder participation was the overall sentiment that was brought forward.
This brings us to the main aim of the event - to explore whether African voices are being listened to in the conservation arena. Based on the talking points from the policy makers in attendance, it was clear that sci ence and facts are a major factor in decision
Jorgedence.Rodriguez
Unfortunately, this is not enough given. Com munity representatives, NGOs, and govern ments will all have a role to play going for ward to make a real impact.
The Namibian Minister for Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Hon. Pohamba Shifeta, alluded to this when stating that his aim in attending the conference was to ensure that African voices are considered by EU Mem ber States.
A number of environmental conventions are already looking to address this issue.
Contextualising the significance of this view point was Dilys Roe, Chair of the IUCN Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group (SULi), who noted that indigenous peoples and local communities manage and own the land on which the majority of the world’s wildlife can be found.
A focus on similar activities will need to be a priority for all involved if we are to maintain and support wildlife in Africa and beyond.
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Providing a platform for African voices has been at the core of the CIC’s activities in re cent years. Examples of this include press con ferences being held in EU Parliament for Af rican community leaders and representatives of state, as well as facilitating governments in working with stakeholders on policies.
Considering the two take-home messages dis cussed above, it can be concluded that even though policymakers are open to utilising sustainable use as part of wildlife management strategies, there are few mechanisms that bring the voices of stakeholders into the conversation in the first place.
For example, the “UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration” and the “CBD Post-2020 Bio diversity Framework” will both look to inte grate indigenous knowledge and leadership into the next wave of global conservation action.
In addition, we are proud to announce that the CIC World Game Cookbook was widely promoted as part of this year’s Jagd und AHund.double
The Jagd und Hund Fair 2022 kicked off 7 June, 2022 in Dortmund, Germany. The fair is the largest hunting exhibition in Europe, and this year’s iteration marked the 40-year anniversary of this historic event.
The session explored recent events in Bran denburg, in which there were efforts to intro duce a new legislation that would have been detrimental to hunting values and ethics.
The CIC German Delegation also hosted an event in the framework of the opening day, in the form of a session titled “The Draft of a New Hunting Law in Brandenburg – Sus tainable Habitat and Game Management.”
As part of the festivities, CIC President Dr. Philipp Harmer gave a welcome speech for participants at the fair, where he stressed how the world around hunting has changed sin ce Jagd und Hund first opened its doors 40 years ago.
In this regard, it was emphasised that hunters need to adapt going forwards. Effectively communicating with non-hunting audiences, particularly about the services that hunting renders to society, was put forward as a vital area of focus for hunters and supporters of sustainable use.
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page spread on the cookbook was printed in the Visitor’s Guide, in addition to being advertised on Infoscreens around the fair. Furthermore, recipes from the cook book were cooked live on the cooking stage by Yvonne Scharl-Blöcker.
The cookbook was available for order at the Paul Parey Zeitschriftenverlag GmbH stand, and copies of the book were on display at the booths operated by Wild & Hund, Juwelier Halder and Mark Dedekind (South African outfitter).
JAGD UND HUND 2022: THE CIC PRESIDENT’S WELCOME SPEECH, A HUNTING LAW IN BRANDENBURG, AND THE CIC WORLD GAME COOKBOOK
While this piece of legislation was ultimately not passed, it was noted that the course of events may have set a precedent for similar incidents in the future, creating a potential area of concern for hunters and the work they carry out in supporting wildlife conser vation.
If you are interested in purchasing a copy yourself, you can do so through the purchase link on our website.
The brochure is just at a starting point and your comments on possible improvements are most welcome. Please send any feedback you may have to Arno Wimpffen (a.wimpffen@ cic-wildlife.com). After incorporating chan ges, a new edition will be launched at the 69th General Assembly in Paris (20-23 Ap ril, 2023) and distributed to every member of the CIC.
The purpose of this brochure is to provide a comprehensive overview of the CIC’s histo ry and present status, as well as its path into the Withfuture.thehelp of this document, every mem ber and non-member will understand the role and function of the CIC, particularly within the context of the newly approved
CIC Statutes which allows us to be an effective international non-governmental organi sation in the 21st century.
THE CIC MARKETING BROCHURE: OUR PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE MEDIA & PUBLICATIONS
See in online.
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The President of the CIC, Dr. Philipp Harmer, started the initiative to create a brochu re on the CIC which was launched at the 68th General Assembly in Riga.
Every three years, after CIC elections, the brochure will be refreshed and renewed. The printed version of the brochure - of which a small number were distributed to participants at the General Assembly - will be a high quality information source, which can be given to partners, sponsors, political decision-makers, and members-to-be. It can also act as a beautiful decorative piece on your coffee table.
View the brochure online using the QR code.
„Love can be found through one’s stomach” is a saying that can be found in several languages. It can therefore be argued that the best way to safeguard hunting and the interests of hunters is by focusing on game meat.
The CIC World Game Cookbook
Publication bytheInternational Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation(CIC)
The latest trends in nutrition say that wild game is one of the foods of the future. Wild game meat is healthy, organic and can be obtained in a sustainable fashion. Introducing more game meat into our diets is therefore a good way to suppor t sustai nable food practices while tr ying out delicious and nutritious dishes! Popularising game meat, as well as game dishes, is a good way for hunters to win the favour of the general public. In view of this, the Ar temis Working Group of Inter national Council for Game and Wildlife Conser vation (CIC) will be brin ging a unique publication - the CIC World Game Cookbook. The CIC World Game Cookbook is a collection of 209 game recipes sident of the CIC Ar temis Working Group, Soňa Chovanová Supeková.
For more information on pricing and how to order the book, visit our website.
AgriLife is to be the first-ever pan-European Label to develop a common method ology based on scientific criteria to assess the agro-biodiversity conditions of European ter ritories. The process is supported by a steering committee and a high-level scientific commit
Ittee.is
a unique process in the European land scape of promoting sustainable management practices for and by farmers. It anticipates the movement toward regenerative agriculture, encourages innovation and aims at
AGRILIFE: A LABEL DESIGNED FOR THE DIRECT BENEFITS OF EUROPEAN FARMERS
AgriLife is therefore an alliance and a recognized network that also mobilizes all the political and operational forces of the stakeholders concerned (civil society, research and businesses etc.), linked to the implementation of measures designed to have a positive impact on agro-biodiversity in Europe.
With its specific focus to evaluate the agroeco logical status of European farmlands and guide them in improving their management practices in agriculture, AgriLife will have an autono mous process and supervision, even if
ensuring the economic and social viability of agri-businesses in line with European strategies for preserving biodiversity in agriculture (CAP, European Biodiversity Strategy, European Green Deal, Farm to Fork, etc.)
The AgriLife label is a progressive process ini tiated by the European Landowner’s organiza tion (ELO) that puts the farmer at the core of its process by rewarding his/her work and ef forts to achieve a high level of best agricultural practices that respect the environment and are a source of biodiversity.
inspired by the Label Wildlife Estates (WE). Above all, it is about encouraging and honoring those who, through their commitment, efforts, strategy and practices, are frontrunners, all the while respecting the legal frameworks and making the best use of scientifically founded methods. This objective, thanks to impact measurement on biodiversity, relates to several types of agriculture from conventional to many other types.
The AgriLife label is therefore an encouragement and a recognition, but also of commu nication tool for all actors, whether they are suppliers, traders, or managers of public or European grants.
As AgriLife is founded on a solid scientific crite rion, it will benefit from the latest research and information on new technologies and practices, which will grant a certain knowledge and com petitiveness compared to other farmers’ advan tage to its members.
If you are a farmer and interested to be part of the 1st phase of the Pilot scheme, please contact Alain Scriban at alain.scriban@elo.org, Chair of the AgriLife Steering Committee or Delphine Dupeux, Coordinator delphine.dupeux@elo.org
Participating in AgriLife requires a personal in vestment from the farmer, yet a relatively simple way to offer a better vision of the impact of one’s choices, practices and results on one’s farm. It will facilitate the identification of areas or aspects where management practices could be improved. It will act in this context as a „re vealer”.
The benefits of a well-structured soil, biological ly rich, are important, both in terms of produc tion quality, and inputs levels, combined with restoration of small fauna and a better-man aged territory are key elements in the develop ment of sustainable agriculture. Those benefits are more and more recognized by consumers, public authorities and private partners.
Mrs Yoko Alender, Chairman of the Environment Committee at the Estonian Parliament
8-9TH OF JUNE 2022 ESTONIA
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Mr. Margus Puust, President of Estonian Hunters Society
The event was opened by Mrs Yoko Alender, Chairman of the Environment Committee at the Estonian Parliament, Mr. Marku Lamp, Deputy Chancellor of Ministry of Environ ment of Estonia, and Mr. Margus Puust, President of Estonian Hunters Society.
Mr. Marku Lamp, Deputy Chancellor of Ministry of Environment of Estonia
INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISM SYMPOSIUMCONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES
After some challenging flight schedules, a group of journalists from Italy, Germany, Es tonia, Romania, Tunisia, Finland, UK, Co lumbia convened for a one-day symposium in Tallinn, Estonia. Rob Yorke, the modera tor, set the challenge to journalists as critical thinkers, without fear or favour, examining issues around conservation and sustainable use of wildlife resources.
Peep Mannil, a scientist with the Estonia Environment Agency, illuminated us on how data around large carnivores (brown bear, wolf, lynx) informed their management. There was positive relationship based on trust with farmers, hunters and wildlife sci entists – especially on how compensation for damages was assessed taking into account mitigating actions such as electric fencing. There was a collective understanding by all stakeholders that ‘overpopulation’ of these
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The following presentations did not disap point in stimulating wide-ranging robust dis cussions.
Mabrouka Khedir, a reporter from Tuni sia, talked about the how far their national government is from any form of environ mental engagement. This included regula tion of hunting – itself not a major activity in the country - alongside exploitation of na ture resources such as timber. She mentioned the reintroduction of Atlas gazelle and a pro ject on connecting children to environmen tal issues. The overriding outtake was the country’s instability and lack of law, which
were eye-opening to those in Europe used to regulations and rules.
nian) was thought the worthy animal to take the heat out of potential looming conflict in parts of the country. The roundtable con vened of sheep farmers, ecologists, hunters, storytellers et al, indicated the vital social skills in convening the ‘right people’ to help model a tool to mitigate similar conflicts. It also involved nudging local media into better use of proper contextual words (non-anthro pomorphic) when mentioning wolves within a report.
expounded on reframing predictable nar ratives around hunting. Primarily it’s about identifying who’s driving wedges and pres sing buttons on the ‘hot issues’. He used examples from Columbia on engaging the private sector in starting to bring about chan ge – concluding it takes time, trust, with both facts and emotion. His goal was an inclusive brand of ‘Nature keepers’ – where hunting is defined, it is diverse in its stakeholders, spe cific to the topic and it’s not just about “pul ling the trigger”.
The journalist group then reported at the CIC’s international conference titled “Con vene - Conserve - Communicate” in Riga on the 10th June at an extended 1.5hr sessi on. Rob Yorke presented an overview of the presentations and subsequent discussions. The journalists were actively encouraged to report their personal views – both from the floor and by rotating them on stage – as to what had been learned, what gaps still exis
from Estonia, narrated the journey of pro ject in 2018 of the wolf being the country’s national animal for that year. After a public poll (where the hedgehog was voted No1), the close runner up the wolf (‘Hunt’ in Esto
Marc de Beaufort, a documentary maker,
Helena Arusoo, environmental journalist
Dr John Linnell, an interdisciplinary sci entist studying human-carnivore interacti ons spoke about an opposite situation where ‘hard ecological facts have little to do with management issues.’ The media have a stron ger role to help enable scientists – portrayed as human beings - to present facts, rather than be sidelined by those who ‘peddle ‘false science’ opinions. Co-existence of both car nivores and people almost plays second fidd le to the elusive goal of people with different values co-existing and tolerating each other within the same space. Wolves in Norway are an example of a locked ‘wicked problem’ driven partly by whipped up mass hysteria.
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carnivores caused greater issues and losses to the carnivores via issues of human-wildlife conflict.
At every General Assembly, the CIC organises the International Journal ism Symposium - Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wildlife Resourc es. These events take a closer look at the particular issues explored at each General Assembly, as well as the sustainable use and hunting activities taking place in the host country.
Thearea.Journalism
The International Journalism Symposium brings together journalists from various backgrounds (environment, science, wildlife, hunting, main stream media) to discuss best prac tices and issues that the profession is facing in today’s world. Attendees are also given an insight into the ongoing work of the CIC and the overall topic
publication of a number of articles in prominent media publications on the realities associated with hunting and sustainable use.
Symposium initiative has been immensely successful in recent years, and has led to the
ted and the challenges ahead. There was robust pushback, comment and interaction from the whole room with one key element being plenty of roving microphones and a stern moderator to ensure not one domina ted and all the voices were heard.
One of the conclusions is that there are plenty of fresher creative ways to engage on these matters with diverse groups of parti cipants ready to offer critical thinking to as sist multidisciplinary thinking arounds hun ting, wildlife conservation, sustainable use and communities all adaptively move for ward together.
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With more than 680 active measurers in the network, the number of trophy evaluations entered into the Trophy Evaluation Databa se (TED) continues to increase on a daily ba sis. We are immensely thankful to everyone
STJs Aleksandar Ceranic, Norbert Bleier, Esa Hinkkanen and Conservation Officer Anett Turóczi at the 7th International Trophy Evaluation
WILDLIFE WATCH
were scheduled at the start of this year, the conflict in Ukrai ne and the ongoing pandemic caused these TES courses to be rescheduled to later dates. Starting from July, there are many courses and events in the pipeline so a busy period awaits us!
Our AlthoughNetworkTEStrainings
Amongtime!
who evaluated trophies and submitted their entries to the database during this difficult
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the events of note since our last up date was the 7th International Trophy Evaluation, which was held as the CIC Administrative Office in Budakeszi, Hunga ry on February 16th. We extend our thanks to the three Senior Trophy Judges (STJ) that were in attendance as part of the Evaluation Committee for this event: Alexandar Cera nic (SRB), Esa Hinkkanen (FI) and Norbert Bleier (HU).
The evaluation also coincided with Hun gary’s FeHoVa (Fishing, Hunting and Arms) International Exhibition, which the CIC attended to showcase the TES.
Imre Kovács (HU), a Certified CIC Mea surer (CCM), took to the main stage to give a talk on the history of the TES, the technical details related to measurement and its use in scientific pursuits.
Imre Kovács and Anett Turóczi at FeHoVa
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In addition, a red deer trophy belonging to President of the CIC, Dr. Philipp Har mer, was measured as part of a live de monstration for attendees.
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Aleksandar Ceranic and Esa Hinkkanen measuring the upper beam circumference of a red deer trophy / Source: Nimród Vadászújság.
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The TES in numbers: Active CCMs/STJs: 621+64 Countries in the TES: 33 Measurements in the TED: 30,541
The TEB strongly encourages all hunters to have their trophies evalua ted by a CCM in order to enhance research possibilities and encourage a more wholesome approach to the evaluation, regardless of the trophy’s potential to reach a medal limit.
Dr. Philipp Harmer (President of the CIC) and Tamás Marghescu (Director General of the CIC). Source: Nimród Vadászújság.
In the Spotlight
By introducing the online database for trophy measurements in 2016, we now have a huge collection of information from trophies around the world. If you could propose a piece of research us ing the data in the TED, what would it be?
Andres Lillemäe
2013-STJ-013Estonia
How do you see trophy evaluation in your home country, Estonia?
Measuring trophies should in essence be the collection of scientific material. During measurement, hunters should assess the animal’s age, if it has been hunted at the right time and so on. This information can be used to compare different years, as well as the populations in different countries, in order to get a bigger picture on whether populations are increasing or decreasing. On the basis of this, it is possible to do selective shooting in the right way.
In Estonia, measuring trophies is something that we have preserved. At the moment, the system involves a trophy exhibition held
every two years, where we measure around 2,000 trophies. About 1,500 of them are good enough to earn a medal. We also give feedback to hunters. However, we want to adopt a system where the age of the fauna is estimated during trophy measurement.
Nowadays young hunters are becom ing increasing interested in trophy measuring. As a teacher, how could we encourage the younger generation to participate more in trophy evalua tion?
You have been the Co-chair of the Trophy Evaluation Board for three years now. How do you see trophy evaluation all around the world? What role is it playing in wildlife management?
In Estonia, we have around ten young hunters who want to measure trophies in the future. We encourage them to become trainees. What we want to see is trophy measuring becoming part of the basic principles of a hunter’s training course. As a result, hunters would be able to estimate the approximate value of trophies them selves before shooting.
When uploading trophies into the data base, there is currently no timeline. When I compiled a comparative graph based on exhibition dates between 1937-2000, it re vealed that the value of herbivore trophies increased after selective shooting spread. A similar graph for carnivores revealed that the value of their trophies also increased as a result of selective shooting. Uploading tables alone does not provide comparative results. It should be possible to create time lines, sort by countries and see how - and to
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lem. Countries should create regulations that ensure that the age is estimated based on the jawbones – this would apply for exhibitions as well. As a part of hunter’s basic training, hunters should be trained about the norms of selective shooting. They would then use these principles and assess, through meas urement, whether they should have taken the shot. Before shooting, it is important to have a multifactor perspective; to know that an animal is not just another animal. This will let young individuals grow, allow the weak and the ill to be hunted first, and so on.
“Like” us on Facebook for regular updates outside of the CIC (https://www.facebook.com/cictes)Magazine!DoyouknowamemberoftheSTJ/CCMnetworkwhoshouldbe
If you have any questions about the above information, or the CIC TES in general, please contact Anett Turóczi, CIC Conservation Officer, at a.turoczi@cic-wildlife.org.
In the Spotlight? Would you like your event highlighted in our events section? Please send STJ/CCM nominations/event details to a.turoczi@cic-wildlife.org
which extent - the values have changed. This way, the database would be able to accurate ly look at the big picture.
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It should be made compulsory to meas ure and evaluate all trophies. Every hunter would know that when they hunt something, they would give the trophy for evaluation. We would also need a larger amount of people to measure the trophies, but I do not think the lack of experts would be a prob-
In your opinion, how could we improve the trophy measuring system both on a national and international level? Do you see any flaws in it?
Examples of how hunters contribute to wetland conservation include the creation of nesting sites for birds and controlling numbers of invasive predators.
Every year, the CIC joins in supporting its partners in promoting various initiatives and days relevant to our shared vision for biodiversity conservation. Here is a recap of some of the activities since the start of this year.
WWD is an annual campaign which looks to raise awareness on the importance of wetlands. Hunters play an essential role in valuing, managing and restoring wetlands all over the world. As engaged stakeholders in waterbird conservation, they have in centives to ensure that waterbird populations and their habitats (including wetlands) remain healthy.
Global Initiatives in Support of Biodiversity Conservation CELEBRATIONS
2 FEBRUARY 2022
WORLD WETLANDS DAY (WWD)
WWF’s frameworktoInversitytheirsationscampaign,#WORLDWITHOUTNATUREinwhichinternationalorganiremovedreferencestowildlifefromlogoforadaytohighlightglobalbiodiloss.addition,theCICwasinVienna,Austriaattendapressconferenceorganisedintheofthedayonthetopicofwildlife
UN WWD is dedicated to raising awareness on the world’s wild animals and plants - the initiative this year was held under the the me “Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration”. The goal was to highlight the conservation status of critically endangered species, with the aim of driving new efforts to conserve such species, restore their habitats and promote their sustainable use. As part of WWD, the CIC also promoted
3 MARCH 2022
crime, which was hosted by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Natural History Museum Vienna (NHM Vienna), the Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance and the Schönbrunn Zoo.
UN WORLD WILDLIFE DAY (WWD)
14 MAY 2022
The International Day for Biological Diversity is a call to action to protect and conserve biodiversity. In an effort to build support for the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, “Building a shared future for all life” was put forward as the slogan for the celebrations. The CIC promoted the “Connecting the Dots” campaign as part of the proceedings, which involved highlighting the various ways in which biodiversity impacts our daily lives. Food security was the topic that was focused on, with people encouraged to consume a varied diet - including wild game meat - as a way to support food security and biodiversity.
Inspired by this theme, the CIC issued a challenge to its friends and members - to limit the amount of light they produce when visiting coastal areas, whether going waterfowl shooting, or simply going to see the beach.
WORLD MIGRATORY BIRD DAY (WMBD)
Held bi-annually, WMBD is an event that brings attention to the need for migratory waterbird conservation. This year’s theme was to publicise the impact of light pollution. 7.5% of seabird species are attracted to and confused by artificial light, which can result in injuries or cause them to be grounded and unable to fly.
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
22 MAY 2022
these elements into the core func tions of the CIC, we have committed to wor king towards a new future in collaboration with like-minded individuals, organisations and “Oneentities.Health”,
• UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
In recent years, however, the scale of global sustainable development issues – not just those related biodiversity – has resulted in a need for new multi-faceted approaches if we are to build a more sustainable and equitable future.
the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and IPLCs will be deeply ingrai ned into all elements of the CIC’s work going forwards. To give you some insight into what we will have in store, we have provided summaries of these three topics below.
That is why the CIC has committed to wor king on the following three work areas and is sues as part of the new CIC Statutes.
the CIC has always championed biodiversity by supporting its conservation through sustainable use.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Indigenous peoples and local communities
• “One Health”
In supporting the needs of hunting, as well as the benefits it generates for larger society, the organisation has been able to contribute towards conservation and the improvement of livelihoods in all areas of the world.
One Health, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and IPLCs: A New Era for the CIC
Within the framework of the 68th General Assembly, the CIC approved and adopted its new Statutes, ushering in a new era for the or ganisation and the wider world of conserva Historically,tion.
By(IPLCs)adopting
“One Health” is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimise the health of people, ani mals and ecosystems. It recognises that the health of humans, domestic and wild ani mals, plants, and the wider environment are closely linked and inter-dependent. The emergence of zoonoses and their im pact on the world, as demonstrated by CO VID-19, serves as one glaring example of this.
With this in mind, the CIC will be looking to mobilise and work with multiple sectors and communities in order to tackle the most pressing sustainable development is sues in a streamlined and effective manner.
UN Decade on RestorationEcosystem
Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs)
tecting and restoring our natural spaces. En vironmental conventions such as CBD and IUCN have realised this and are now placing a greater emphasis on IPLCs throug hout their values and activities.
We are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of indigenous and local know ledge in biodiversity conservation. Not only do IPLCs live amongst and sustainably use natural resources to support their livelihoods, they are also the frontline workers in pro
combat climate change and prevent a mass Huntersextinction.are already engaged in ecosystem management and restoration, efforts which will need to be increased in support of the UN Decade. The 2022 CIC Wildlife Photo Prize has already been held in support of the initiative, as part of an effort to raise awareness and support for ongoing ecosys tem restoration actions.
In recent years, the CIC has been working to give a voice to IPLCs, supporting their right to sustainably manage and use their natural resources, while facilitating their inclusion in all levels of environmental decision-making.
“One Health”
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is an initiative running between 2021 - 2030 which aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and ocean. In addressing ecosystem health, we are also helping to end poverty,
The European Ombudsman has reported findings of maladministration after investi gating the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for failing to distribute information pertaining to the European Chemical Agen cy’s (ECHA) proposal for a ban on lead in ammunition in a timely manner.
FACE had requested the relevant documents from ESFA in order to investigate their con tents while ECHA was hosting a consultation on their proposal. However, the seven month delay in the provision of the information meant that the consultation was closed to the public once FACE had received the materials.
The European Ombudsman noted that these types of requests for information should typi cally be handled within 15 days, or 30 days in exceptional cases. Given the course of action that transpired, the Ombudsman concluded that “access delayed is access denied.”
In light of this information, ECHA should consider reopening their public consultation relating to the ban on lead in ammunition. It is vital that the European institutions up hold a fair, valid and rigorous legislative pro cess, which ECHA may be unable to uphold given the situation at hand.
Ban on Lead in Ammunition Called Into Question After European Ombudsman Finds Evidence of Maladministration
The maladministration was attributed to ESFA’s uncooperative attempts to facilitate FACE (European Federation for Hunting and Conservation) in their requests for infor mation which informs a key part of ECHA’s current position on the ban in question.
Notably, FACE has stated that several issues have since been identified in the documents, meaning they were unable to bring them to the attention of ECHA during the consulta tion period.
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New Heads of Delegations of the CIC
THIERRY DE LORIOL (Switzerland)
lives on his family estate, close to his home town of Geneva. A keen hunter and conservationist, Thierry shoots (mainly partridge and woodcock), hunts (wild boar) and stalks (roebuck, deer, chamois and oc casionally ibex) throughout Europe, as well as locally.
Thierry de Loriol was born in Venezuela, grew up in Nigeria and attended school in London, Paris and Lausanne. After graduating from law school in Geneva, he then spent 15 years in investment banking in Zurich, London, Frankfurt and ultimately Tokyo. He returned to Switzerland 20 years ago and focused on the private banking sector and its consolidation, lead ing the restructuring of several private banks and asset Thierrymanagers.now
MICHAEL CASSIDY (USA)
ZOLTÁN (Hungary)KOVÁCS
Zoltán Kovács is the Secretary of State for International Communication and Re lations for the Government of Hungary. He has also held numerous other high-le vel positions in government, including Government Spokesperson for the Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister, as well as two other Secretary of State positions.
In addition to representing the United States within the CIC, he sits on the Board of Directors for both the Rec reational Boating and Fishing Foundation and Bonefish Tarpon Trust and Wildlife Forever. He is a life member of several organisations that the CIC has partnered or been affiliated with, including Dallas Safari Club and Safari Club International.
Both professionally and privately, Zoltán Kovács is deeply engaged in hunting and sustainable use matters. He was the Go vernment Commissioner for Hungary’s “One with Nature – World of Hunting and Nature” exhibition, which brought
Michael Cassidy is a life-long sales and content executive who has spent many years promoting a multitude of media assets - including internet, print, and television - throughout his career in the publishing industry. He is currently based with Outdoor Sportsman Group (OSG) and serves as Publisher for Game & Fish and In-Fisherman magazines. Prior to joining OSG, he also held leadership positions at F&W Media (Deer & Deer Hunting, Gun Digest, Modern Shooter, Destination Whitetail) and Scout.com (North American Hunter and North American Fisherman).
the international stage of hunting and conservation to the city of Budapest in 2021. He is also familiar with the ongoing work of the CIC, moderating and spea king at the two most recent General As semblies of the CIC (Budapest and Riga).
We are delighted to announce that Sebastian Winkler - a German, Mexican, French, and Swiss national who grew up in Africa - has joined the CIC as the new Deputy Director
Sebastian Winkler has over 20 years of experience as a bro ker across the United Nations, conventionswithcareer,sector.industrygovernments,numerousprivateandtheNGOThroughouthishehasworkedorganisationsandthatare
closely associated with the activities of the CIC, including IUCN and UNEP.
TheGeneral.news
This appointment would also not be his first exposure to the CIC. In 2017, he was in at tendance at the 64th General Assembly in Montreux, where he moderated the panel dis cussion, “What’s your problem with hunting?”
To add to this excit ing news, we would also like to take this opportunity to an nounce the hiring of Arno Wimpffen, who will work as a consultant with the CIC Administrative Office.
Arno’s background is in forestry and international man agement. He has been a hunter for 37 years and is involved in the management of an es tate, including the hunting activities that take place there. In addition, he has experience in Brussels, where he worked with several Euro pean institutions.
He is an internationally recognised leader in environmental policy and diplomacy, whose expertise lies in biodiversity, regenerative agriculture, sustainability metrics, voluntary certi fication standards, environmental economics, climate change and resource mobilisation.
The CIC Welcomes A Deputy Director General & A Marketing Officer
comes following the decision of the outgoing Deputy Director General, Mark Ryan, to step down from the position after a tenure of three and a half years. We thank him for his years of service, and wish him well on his future ventures in New Zealand.
The CIC warmly welcomes Sebastian and Arno to the team. We are excited to see where this new direction leads for the CIC and its international membership.
In addition, Sebastian is keenly attuned to hunting and sustainable use issues, with his first exposure to hunting coming at the age of eight after going on a hunting trip with the Baka Pygmies in Cameroon.
The U.S. in particular was mentioned as a target area for joint focus, due to the International Order of St. Hubertus’ strong presence within the country and the CIC’s growing and influential U.S. Delegation.
Dr. Philipp Harmer, President of the CIC (left) and István von Habsburg-Lothringen, “Grand Master” of the International Order of St. Hubertus (right)
Following on from this, he outlined the work of the CIC in dealing with the threats to hunting and sustainable use in today’s world.
At the official meeting the next day, a number of keynote speeches were held in the much befitting location of Kremsmünster Abbey, a monastery first built in 777 AD.
Particular mention was made to the influence of international campaigns targeted towards the UN and the European Commission. In recent years, such campaigns have often caught the at tention of the media and policymakers alike, de spite them often being founded in emotion and sentiment rather than wildlife science.
The CIC once again extends its thanks to the International Order of St. Hubertus for joining the CIC Membership. With both organisations renowned for their extensive and knowledgeable networks, the new relationship has the potential to lead to exciting initiatives in the near future.
The CIC And the International Order of St. Hubertus Commit to Strengthening Ties
In his speech, Dr. Harmer recognised and ap plauded the International Order of St. Hubertus for becoming an international NGO member of the CIC, while stating his intention to develop a close relationship between the two organisations.
On 30 April 2022, CIC President, Dr. Philipp Harmer, attended an International Order of St. Hubertus meeting in Kremsmünster, Austria to promote the work of the CIC and to celebrate the new relationship between the two organisations.
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The International Order of St. Hubertus is a global organisation and knightly order of hunt ers and wildlife conservationists that promotes hunting ethics and practices. Notably, the organ isation recently joined the CIC network as an in ternational NGO member.
On the evening of April 29th, the CIC Presi dent hosted a reception, in the name of the CIC, for participants at his home in Feyregg, Austria which was attended by some 30 people.
István von Habsburg-Lothringen, the “Grand Master” of the International Order of St. Hu bertus, echoed the sentiments of the CIC Pres ident in his speech, where he underlined his de sire to work together and share ideas with the CIC going forward.
Die Taufe der K-20 Victoria, nach dem Namen der römischen Siegesgöttin, kommt nicht von ungefähr. Dank ihrem speziell für die weibliche Anatomie geformten Schaft verspricht sie ihren Besitzerinnen intuitiveres Zielen und perfekteres Treffen.
WEIBLICH. ELEGANT. SCHÖN.
krieghoff.de
