Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – October 2025

The International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) was strongly represented at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, held in Abu Dhabi. The CIC delegation – Director General Arno Wimpffen, Director of Communications and Public Affairs Tristan Breijer, Policy Coordinator Alexandra Kalandarishvili, and former Director General and International Policy Advisor Sebastian Winkler – joined conservation leaders, governments, and international organisations to shape the global dialogue on biodiversity and sustainable use.

The IUCN World Conservation Congress is one of the most influential events in international conservation. Every four years, it brings together states, NGOs, scientists, and civil society to set global priorities for biodiversity. The resolutions and motions adopted by IUCN guide how governments develop national environmental and wildlife policies, directly influencing conservation law and funding frameworks worldwide.

Expanding the CIC’s footprint in the Middle East

For the CIC, the Congress was an important opportunity to meet with existing and potential partners across the Middle East and Africa. Meetings with ministries, NGOs, and academic institutions highlighted a shared commitment to developing wildlife economy models that deliver benefits for people, biodiversity, and rural livelihoods.

Participation in the Congress reinforced the CIC’s expanding footprint in the region, complementing its ongoing efforts to build cooperation with Gulf institutions and promote sustainable use as a driver of conservation and economic growth.

Advancing the Wildlife Economy

Ahead of the Congress, the CIC worked closely with the African Wildlife Economy Institute (AWEI) to publish a Policy Brief analysing more than 100 motions submitted by IUCN Members. The document assessed how these proposals supported sustainable use and provided a voting recommendation to the IUCN community. The brief drew wide attention from both supporters and opponents of sustainable use, demonstrating the growing relevance of the wildlife economy in global biodiversity debates.

In partnership with AWEI, the CIC also drafted and submitted an IUCN Motion entitled “Advancing the Sustainable Management, Use and Trade of Wild Species.” The motion, sponsored by eleven IUCN Members and submitted jointly with the European Bureau for Conservation and Development (EBCD, Belgium), aims to operationalise Targets 5 and 9 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework—ensuring that the use of wild species is legal, sustainable, and safe, and that benefits are equitably shared with local communities. The motion was adopted by electronic vote, marking a milestone in embedding sustainable use within the IUCN policy framework.

The Wildlife Economy Session

At the Congress, the CIC and AWEI co-led a 90-minute thematic session on the Wildlife Economy, focusing on how sustainable use can advance the CIC 2030 Strategic Plan and contribute to the achievement of the Global Biodiversity Framework. The session, moderated by Dr Frank Vorhies (AWEI) and Dr Dilys Roe (IUCN Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group), brought together senior policymakers, scientists, and community representatives to explore practical approaches for integrating sustainable use and benefit-sharing into conservation.

The discussion was well attended and received, setting the stage for upcoming CIC sessions at CITES CoP20 in Samarkand. It also complemented the IUCN Resolution on Targets 5 and 9, which was later adopted unanimously, reaffirming international support for sustainable use and community-based conservation.

Defending Sustainable Use in the IUCN Process

Throughout the Congress, the CIC participated actively in Motion Working Groups, ensuring that proposals inconsistent with sustainable use principles were revised or prevented from being adopted. Working alongside the Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group (SULi) and partners in the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management (CPW), the CIC defended and promoted sustainable use as a key conservation mechanism.

Ahead of the IUCN Council elections, the CIC distributed a questionnaire to all candidates to assess their stance on sustainable use. Based on the responses, CIC members and partners supported candidates aligned with evidence-based, pragmatic conservation. Among the candidates was former CIC Director General Sebastian Winkler, who campaigned on a pro-sustainable use platform, reaffirming CIC’s long-standing role in shaping global conservation leadership.

Building Alliances and Partnerships

Beyond the formal programme, the Congress served as a platform to deepen collaboration with global and regional partners. The CIC delegation met with ministers, NGOs, and institutional partners from across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

A key highlight was the meeting with Hon. Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry and Parks for Alberta, Canada, following Alberta’s accession as the CIC’s newest State Member. Alberta’s membership marks a historic milestone, the first provincial-level member within North America, and further strengthens CIC’s intergovernmental network.

The CIC also engaged with partners including the FAO, UNEP, and WOAH, reaffirming its role as a bridge between policy, science, and practice in advancing the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Media Contact:

Tristan Breijer MBA FRGS FRSA MCIJ
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
CIC – International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation
Email: tristan.breijer@cic-wildlife.org
Mobile: +44 781 408 7423
Website: www.cic-wildlife.org