International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation

The International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation, commonly known as the CIC, is a politically independent, not-for-profit international organization concerned with wildlife conservation, hunting policy, and the sustainable management of wildlife resources. Its name reflects its historical origins in the French-language Conseil International de la Chasse, from which the initialism CIC is derived. The organization presents sustainable and ethical hunting as one possible tool for conserving biodiversity, supporting rural livelihoods, maintaining cultural traditions, and managing wildlife populations when conducted within appropriate legal, scientific, and ecological frameworks. The concept of an international hunting and wildlife organization was discussed as early as 1910 at an international hunting exhibition in Vienna. It moved toward institutional form after a 1928 conference in what is now southern Slovakia. French lawyer Maxime Ducrocq and Count Louis Károlyi were among the principal figures associated with that initiative. Representatives of several European countries supported the creation of an international council, and the resulting Declaration of Nové Zámky called for a permanent body and the preparation of formal statutes. The CIC was officially established and registered in Paris at its inaugural General Assembly in November 1930. Its administrative office remained in Paris until 1999, after which the administrative office moved to Hungary. The organization is headquartered in Vienna and has diplomatic status in Hungary. The CIC brings together state members represented by wildlife or conservation authorities, national and international organizations, individual members, scientific experts, sponsors, and younger conservation professionals. Reference material describes a membership of more than 1,700 people and institutions in over 80 countries, together with approximately 40 national delegations. Its official languages are English, French, and German. The organization holds observer status at the United Nations and cooperates with bodies involved in biodiversity, wildlife trade, migratory species, animal health, environmental law, and sustainable development. Its work is organized through a General Assembly, Executive Committee, Council, national delegations, specialized divisions, and working groups. Activities include policy and legal analysis, technical publications, wildlife-management expertise, international dialogue, conservation education, and support for scientific research. The CIC has worked with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on wildlife legislation and technical documentation, and it has participated in the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management, a network of international organizations seeking more coordinated approaches to terrestrial wildlife conservation and sustainable use. The organization also maintains youth and gender-focused initiatives. Young Opinion, launched in 2000, connects conservationists under 40 and supports education, scientific exchange, research, and discussion of sustainable use. Its activities include the Global Youth for Sustainable Use events and a research award. The Artemis working group, established in 2011, promotes the participation of women in hunting, wildlife management, environmental education, conservation culture, and related fields. Through its partnerships and assemblies, the CIC functions less as a consumer-facing product brand than as an institutional identity representing a global policy, expert, and membership network.

The CIC emerged from a long-running European discussion about coordinated hunting and wildlife policy. An international hunting exhibition in Vienna in 1910 helped establish the idea that wildlife management required cooperation beyond national borders. The proposal became more concrete in 1928, when Maxime Ducrocq and Count Louis Károlyi helped convene representatives in the Nové Zámky and Palárikovo area of present-day Slovakia. The participants supported the creation of an international council and adopted a declaration calling for statutes and a permanent institutional structure. The manor of Count Károlyi in Palárikovo later became associated with the organization’s origins and serves as a CIC museum. The organization was formally founded and registered in Paris during its first General Assembly in November 1930. Its original French designation was Conseil International de la Chasse, later expanded to reflect conservation and game management. From its foundation, the CIC promoted the view that regulated, ethical hunting could be compatible with wildlife protection and could, under suitable conditions, provide resources and incentives for conservation. It developed as an independent advisory and membership body rather than as a commercial hunting operator. The CIC’s administrative office was based in Paris until 1999. It subsequently moved to Hungary, where the organization has diplomatic status, while Vienna remains its headquarters. Over time, its membership broadened beyond hunting associations to include government representatives, public wildlife institutions, conservation organizations, scientists, individual members, sponsors, and young professionals. The organization reports participation from more than 80 countries and maintains national delegations that coordinate work at country level. Its institutional structure includes a General Assembly, Executive Committee, Council, and national delegations, supported by divisions and working groups. The General Assembly is the highest organ and is held in member countries. These meetings combine formal governance with scientific symposia, policy discussions, expert sessions, and exchanges with international organizations. Topics have included biodiversity, wildlife crime, wildlife diseases, public health, hunting culture, and the relationship between conservation and sustainable use. International cooperation became an increasingly important part of the CIC’s work. Its collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization dates to 2002 and produced analysis and technical publications on weaknesses in wildlife policy and legislation, as well as the needs of countries seeking stronger legal frameworks. The CIC also contributed to WildlifeLex, an online effort intended to organize and connect wildlife-management legislation and related best practices. In 2005, it entered into a partnership with the Convention on Migratory Species. The CIC participates in broader networks involving organizations such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, CITES, UNEP, IUCN, Wetlands International, the International Association for Falconry, FACE, and the International Union of Game Biologists. It is also one of the participants in the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management, established through an initiative developed in 2011 and holding its first meeting in Bangkok in 2013. The partnership seeks greater coordination among international bodies working on terrestrial wildlife conservation and sustainable use. The organization has developed dedicated programs for inclusion and intergenerational participation. Young Opinion was launched in 2000 to connect conservationists under 40, encourage youth education and cultural exchange, and support research consistent with sustainable-use principles. Artemis was founded in 2011 to bring together women involved in hunting, conservation, environmental education, and wildlife policy. These initiatives complement the CIC’s policy and technical work by expanding its professional and social network.

• 2014

  61st General Assembly in Milan

  [1]International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservationen.wikipedia.org

  The Milan assembly addressed hunting, youth, biodiversity, and wildlife crime.

• 2013

  60th General Assembly and first CPW meeting

  [1]International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservationen.wikipedia.org

  The CIC held its 60th General Assembly in Central Europe, while the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management held its first meeting in Bangkok.

• 2011

  Artemis working group established

  [1]International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservationen.wikipedia.org

  The CIC established Artemis to support women involved in hunting, conservation, environmental education, and wildlife management.

• 2005

  Partnership with the Convention on Migratory Species

  [1]International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservationen.wikipedia.org

  The CIC entered a partnership with the Convention on Migratory Species as part of its international conservation work.

• 2002

  CIC-FAO cooperation begins

  [1]International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservationen.wikipedia.org

  The CIC and FAO began structured cooperation on wildlife policy, legislation, and technical support.

• 2000

  Young Opinion launched

  [1]International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservationen.wikipedia.org

  The CIC created a working group for conservationists under 40, later supporting youth events, education, and research.

• 1999

  Administrative office moves from Paris

  [1]International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservationen.wikipedia.org

  After decades in Paris, the CIC’s administrative office was relocated to Hungary.

• 1930

  CIC founded in Paris

  [1]International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservationen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was formally established and registered during its inaugural General Assembly in Paris.

• 1928

  Declaration of Nové Zámky

  [1]International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservationen.wikipedia.org

  A conference in the Nové Zámky and Palárikovo area advanced plans for an international hunting council and called for the preparation of formal statutes.

• 1910

  Early international concept discussed in Vienna

  [1]International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservationen.wikipedia.org

  An international hunting exhibition in Vienna helped generate the idea of an organization dedicated to international cooperation on hunting and wildlife management.

An international membership and policy organization advocating conservation through scientifically informed, lawful, and sustainable wildlife use, with particular expertise in hunting, wildlife management, conservation law, and international cooperation.

• International conference · 1930

  CIC General Assembly

  The CIC General Assembly is the organization’s highest governance forum and an important platform for scientific, policy, and institutional exchange. Assemblies are hosted in member countries and bring together government representatives, conservation organizations, hunting associations, researchers, international agencies, and national delegations. Themes have included biodiversity, wildlife crime, wildlife health, sustainable use, and cultural heritage.

• Youth conservation network · 2000

  Young Opinion

  Young Opinion is a CIC working group for people under 40 who are interested in wildlife conservation and sustainable management. It supports international networking, education, scientific symposia, cultural exchange, discussion of game meat and sustainable use, and the CIC Young Opinion Research Award.

• Women’s conservation and hunting network · 2011

  Artemis

  Artemis is a working group that connects women active in hunting and wildlife conservation. Its activities include environmental education, hunting culture, gastronomy, advocacy, and discussion of women’s roles in wildlife management.

• Technical publication program · 2002

  CIC-FAO Technical Series

  Produced through cooperation between the CIC and FAO, the technical work addresses wildlife policy and legislation, identifies weaknesses in existing frameworks, and documents technical-support needs for countries seeking to improve wildlife-management law and practice.

• Online legal information platform

  WildlifeLex

  WildlifeLex was an international online initiative associated with CIC and FAO cooperation. It was intended to organize wildlife-management legislation, statistics, examples of good practice, and related materials from different countries and regions.

• 2014Hunters United Against Wildlife Crime

  International

  A global summit organized within the CIC’s 61st General Assembly in Milan to discuss how hunters and conservation stakeholders could cooperate against wildlife crime.

  Outcome. The event placed wildlife crime alongside biodiversity and youth as a central theme of the assembly; a separately measurable outcome is not specified in the reference material.

  Source
• 2005CIC-CMS conservation partnership

  International

  The CIC established a partnership with the Convention on Migratory Species to support cooperation on migratory wildlife conservation.

  Outcome. The partnership expanded the CIC’s links with international environmental conventions.

  Source

• 2011

  Create the Artemis working groupStrategy

  Background

  The CIC identified a need to recognize and strengthen women’s participation in hunting and sustainable-use work.

  Action taken

  It established Artemis as a working group for women engaged in hunting, conservation, environmental education, and wildlife-management issues.

  Aftermath

  Artemis became a continuing platform for advocacy, networking, education, and cultural activities.

  Source

• 2000

  Launch Young OpinionStrategy

  Background

  The organization sought to involve younger conservationists and develop a future-oriented international network.

  Action taken

  The CIC launched Young Opinion for members and conservationists under 40.

  Aftermath

  The group developed youth assemblies, education activities, cultural exchange, and a research award.

  Source

1. 1International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation official websitecic-wildlife.org