On 2 December, a senior delegation of the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) met in Madrid with H.E. Luis Planas Puchades, Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, underlining the close and trusted relationship between the CIC and the Spanish Government at a critical moment for wildlife health and agricultural policy.
The CIC delegation was represented by CIC Deputy President Luis de la Peña, Director General Arno Wimpffen, and Juan del Yerro, Legal Advisor to the CIC and a leading authority in international trophy evaluation. Their presence reflected long-standing institutional cooperation between the CIC, Spanish hunting authorities, and the scientific foundations of sustainable wildlife management.
The meeting addressed the 75th Anniversary of the Junta Nacional Homologadora de Trofeos de Caza (JNHTC) and the historic and scientific relevance of the CIC Trophy Evaluation System on which it is based, reaffirming trophy evaluation as a data-driven management tool contributing to wildlife monitoring, population structure analysis, and evidence-based decision-making at the national and international level.
A further focus of the meeting was the recent outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Spain. The discussion addressed the seriousness of the situation and its potential economic, agricultural, and ecological implications, particularly in relation to wild boar management, rural livelihoods, and food security. The exchange underlined the importance of early detection, coordinated response, and structured cooperation between public authorities and organisations active in wildlife management.
The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, reflecting its high political and administrative level:
- Sr. D. Miguel Ruiz Gómez, Chief of Cabinet to the Minister (not pictured)
- Doña Ana Rodríguez Castaño, Secretary-General for Agricultural Resources and Food Security
- Doña Elena Busutil, Director-General for Agricultural Productions and Markets
Following the Madrid meeting, CIC Director General Arno Wimpffen appeared the following day on Spanish national radio (RTVE), contributing expert analysis on the African Swine Fever outbreak and outlining the role of wildlife management and hunting structures in disease surveillance, monitoring, and prevention. This public intervention further demonstrated the CIC’s role as a science-based and trusted interlocutor in emerging wildlife health challenges.
As a valued State Member of the CIC and one of the organisation’s 29 State Members, Spain plays an important role in advancing science-based wildlife management and international cooperation within the CIC framework. In this context, the Spanish Ministry was formally invited to participate in the forthcoming CIC General Assembly in Vienna, taking place from 16 to 19 April, with confirmation that senior representatives will attend.
The Madrid visit was preceded by a private dinner the evening before the ministerial meeting, held at the Nuevo Club and organised by senior members of the JNHTC. The dinner honoured the Marques de Valdueza and the Viscount of Salinas for their exceptional service and lifelong dedication to the Junta. Their contribution was recognised as instrumental in safeguarding institutional continuity, scientific credibility, and the transmission of hunting tradition to future generations.
As part of the anniversary programme, the JNHTC also hosted a roundtable discussion moderated by CIC Deputy President Luis de la Peña reflecting on historic world-record trophies, including chamois and wild boar. The discussion highlighted how the CIC Trophy Evaluation System functions as a practical management tool, with its age-related scoring categories incentivising the selective harvesting of older animals. This approach contributes directly to improved population structure, increased age-class offtake where appropriate, and more sustainable long-term game management outcomes.
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
