Vienna, 17 April 2026

Vienna today became the centre of global conservation dialogue as the 72nd General Assembly of the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) opened with more than 650 participants from across the world.

Ministers, ambassadors, diplomats, policymakers, scientists and conservation leaders gathered under the theme “Wildlife Economy”, placing Austria at the heart of discussions on biodiversity, land use and rural development.

Among the distinguished participants were Mag. Norbert Totschnig, Federal Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management of Austria, Doña Ana Rodríguez Castaño, Secretaria General de Recursos Agrarios y Seguridad Alimentaria, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Government of Spain, and H.E. María Aurora Mejía Errasquín, Ambassador of Spain to the Republic of Austria, alongside international leaders from Africa, North America, Asia, and Europe.

Opening the Assembly, Dr. Philipp Harmer, President of the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC), concluding his second term reflected on the organisation’s progress:

“The CIC has shown that conservation works where science, policy and responsibility come together. Hunters render a service to nature and society, without asking the tax payers contribution. This Assembly reflects that shared commitment.”

The Assembly was formally opened with an address by Dr. Wolfgang Schüssel, former Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria, who underlined Austria’s long-standing role in European policy, international cooperation, and sustainable land management. His intervention highlighted the importance of aligning conservation objectives with political and economic realities.

This was followed by Austrian contributions from Franz Mayr-Melnhof-Saurau, Vice President of Jagd Österreich, and Mag. Jörg Binder, Secretary General of Jagd Österreich, highlighting Austria’s model of responsible wildlife management and stewardship.

At the centre of the programme, the Global Wildlife Economy session brought together voices from across continents, including Lydia Daring Bhebe (African Wildlife Economy Institute), Aibat Muzbay (CIC Kazakhstan), Dr. David Scallan (FACE), and Ramón Pérez-Gil (FAUNAM).

In the ministerial session, Mag. Norbert Totschnig and Doña Ana Rodríguez Castaño emphasised the importance of aligning conservation, agriculture, and rural policy:

“Hunting is an indispensable part of responsible agricultural, forestry, and environmental policy. It provides a significant contribution to species conservation while also strengthening rural areas. Hunters play a central role as active stewards of nature and wildlife. Achieving a balanced coexistence between humans, livestock, and wild animals requires active management, especially given the return of the wolves.” — Norbert Totschnig

“The Wildlife Economy is not a mere commercial concept, but the heartbeat of the Spanish rural world and the guarantee of its survival, based on the historical symbiosis between man and the land.” — Ana Rodríguez Castaño

Further sessions explored practical conservation frameworks. Tim Bonner (Chief Executive, The Countryside Alliance), Wilfried Pabst (Advisor to the CIC Executive Committee) and José Luis López-Schummer (President, Fundación Artemisan) addressed governance and public legitimacy.

The North American Wildlife Panel, featuring Gray Thornton (President & CEO, Wild Sheep Foundation), Tony Schoonen (CEO, Boone and Crockett Club), Ron Reagan (Executive Director, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies) and Matt Besko (Director of Wildlife, Government of Alberta), highlighted how structured governance and funding models underpin long-term conservation success.

Following the Assembly, a “March for Conservation” brought participants together in a coordinated procession to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, underlining the shared commitment of policymakers, diplomats, and conservation leaders. There, they were received by Bishop Alois Schwarz and Superintendent Mag. Dr. Matthias Geist for the Traditional Hunters’ Mass.

The evening continued with the Welcome Dinner at Palais Liechtenstein, where the CIC also awarded its Literature Prize to Princess Auersperg in recognition of her distinguished contribution to the cultural heritage of hunting and conservation, bringing together culture, history, and policy and setting the tone for a General Assembly defined by both substance and international cooperation.

A second press release will follow, covering the election of new leadership and the key outcomes of the General Assembly.