Budapest, Hungary – 4 December 2025
The International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) convened a high-level roundtable in Budapest to strengthen cooperation on environmental education and to better integrate nature-based learning into formal education systems.
The meeting was hosted by Dr Zoltán Kovács, State Secretary for International Communication and Relations, Government Commissioner, International Spokesperson of the Hungarian Government, Editor-in-Chief of Nimród, and Head of the Hungarian CIC Delegation. His leadership underscored the importance of political commitment and cross-sector coordination in advancing environmental education at national level.
Initiated by Beatrix Bán, President of the CIC Artemis Working Group, the roundtable was jointly organised by the Hungarian CIC Delegation, the Artemis Working Group, and Nimród. It brought together representatives of ministries responsible for public education and vocational training, alongside civil society organisations and institutions actively engaged in environmental and outdoor education.
Hungary has established strong framework conditions for environmental education by embedding it as a fundamental task within the National Core Curriculum. Sustainability also plays a central role in vocational training, where environmental awareness is recognised as a core competency. Participants nevertheless noted that many high-quality programmes developed by NGOs and professional organisations remain under-utilised within schools, pointing to a need for improved coordination and access.
The roundtable provided an opportunity for senior government representatives, civil society leaders, and educational institutions to engage in direct dialogue on practical next steps. Proposed areas of cooperation included the establishment of a professional coordination body, the development of shared educational and support materials, teacher-focused webinars, dedicated school lessons, and the expansion of forest school activities.
The meeting aligns closely with the CIC Artemis Working Group’s ongoing work on early environmental education. As part of this initiative, Artemis is currently compiling an international collection of best practices and educational models, to be published in a dedicated booklet by April 2026, in advance of the CIC General Assembly in Vienna.
Through initiatives such as this, CIC continues to promote education that reconnects young people with nature, highlights the role of sustainable wildlife management, and supports policymakers and educators in delivering practical, experience-based environmental learning.
Photo credit: Márton Kókai / Nimród (Hungary)
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
