Gland, Switzerland – 3–4 November 2025
The International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) convened its Council and Executive Committee meetings at the headquarters of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Gland, Switzerland. The IUCN Conservation Centre, which also houses WWF International and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, provided an inspiring setting for two days of discussion on the future of conservation and sustainable use.
The meeting marked a special moment for the organisation, taking place at the very heart of global environmental policy. CIC delegates were warmly received by Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention, who expressed her pleasure that the CIC had joined the Ramsar as an official observer.
Dialogue with Global Conservation Leaders
The Council was joined by leading figures from the international conservation community: Ivonne Higuero, Secretary-General of CITES; David Goodman, Senior Policy Officer at IUCN; and Mark Halle, Chair of TRAFFIC International and the Global Rewilding Alliance. Their presence reflected the CIC’s role as a bridge between multilateral environmental agreements, science, and sustainable-use practice.
Ivonne Higuero outlined preparations for the forthcoming CITES COP 20 in Samarkand and reaffirmed that the Convention is rooted in both conservation and sustainable trade.
“CITES is about trade and conservation of wildlife. There is no prohibition of trade under CITES. Hunting, if well-regulated and legal, is considered a conservation tool,” she said. “It helps maintain habitats and provides incentives for communities living side by side with wildlife.”
She cautioned against overlooking the social and economic dimensions of conservation, calling for stronger communication and empathy between decision-makers and those living with wildlife.
“We have to make sure that we support local communities,” she noted. “They must receive incentives to maintain the habitats we all depend on.”
Mark Halle reflected on how global conservation must evolve to integrate environmental and economic systems.
“If we are able to align the financial system with the needs of a healthy nature, we can succeed,” he said. “If we fail to align the financial system, there is not a chance in the world that we will.”
Halle also noted that sustainable use is central to building the emerging nature-positive economy, expected to grow to thirty trillion dollars by 2050.
“Sustainable use has to be one of the central pillars of this new bioeconomy. We cannot build an economy based on nature without using it wisely and responsibly.”
He encouraged closer collaboration between IUCN, CITES and the CIC to advance the debate on sustainable use “in maturity and responsibility”, ensuring that it is grounded in both science and practice.
CIC President Dr Philipp Harmer reaffirmed the organisation’s conviction that well-regulated hunting delivers measurable conservation outcomes.
“We believe hunting renders a service to nature and to society,” he said. “When carried out responsibly, it safeguards habitats and supports livelihoods. That is conservation in action.”
Strategic Outlook
Alongside these exchanges, the Council and Executive Committee reviewed progress under the CIC 2030 Strategic Plan, preparations for the forthcoming General Assembly, and upcoming collaborations within multilateral environmental agreements. Members discussed the organisation’s future priorities and reaffirmed its commitment to measurable conservation impact.
A Unique Platform for Sustainable Use
As a IUCN member and observer to multiple international conventions, the CIC stands as a unique organisation representing the sustainable-use community within the highest levels of global environmental governance.
Gathering in Gland, among partners that have shaped modern conservation, the CIC reaffirmed its mission to ensure that wildlife is valued, conserved and wisely utilised for the benefit of people and nature.
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
