London, United Kingdom – Diplomats and Members of Parliament gathered on the 16th July 2025 at the historic Carlton Club in London for a diplomatic dinner hosted by the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC).
Organised by Tristan Breijer, CIC’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, with the support of Charlie Jacoby (SCI), Christopher Graffius, and Jak Abrahams (BASC), the evening convened over twenty participants from more than a dozen countries across Africa, Europe, and Asia. Among those in attendance were Members of Parliament including Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, Lord Robathan and Lord Mancroft, alongside high-level diplomatic representatives from Namibia, Uganda, Malawi, Hungary, Zimbabwe, Kazakhstan, Tanzania, Zambia, and Botswana.
The dinner offered a rare forum for open dialogue on sustainable use, national sovereignty in wildlife management, and the role of international frameworks in shaping conservation policy. It also reaffirmed CIC’s standing as a diplomatic convener, recognised internationally for bridging technical, governmental, and grassroots perspectives.
Lord Mancroft addressed the widening gap between international decision-makers and those living directly with wildlife:
“Too often, decisions are made by people who have never set foot in the places they claim to protect. What we heard tonight — from Namibia, from Zimbabwe, from Uganda — was authentic, and essential.”
Namibia’s High Commissioner, H.E. Linda Anne Scott, underscored how her country’s success in conserving wildlife during more than a decade of drought rests on empowering local communities:
“Our people choose to live alongside dangerous wildlife because it is their heritage. Conservation is not about elitism — it’s our bread and butter.”
Uganda’s Ambassador, H.E. Nimisha Madhvani, emphasised the importance of collaboration over exclusion:
“We must work together, not to impose, but to align. This is about protecting access, not withdrawing it.”
Hungarian Ambassador, H.E. Dr Ferenc Kumin, reflected on Hungary’s close partnership with the CIC:
“Conservation is not just a policy — it’s part of our rural identity. Hosting CIC in Budapest is a reflection of who we are and how we see the future of our natural landscapes.”
Several speakers noted the need to uphold international conventions, such as CITES and the Global Biodiversity Framework, while reinforcing local and Indigenous stewardship and the legitimacy of national conservation models.
Closing the evening, Tristan Breijer reflected:
“What matters is not just who speaks — but who is heard. The future of conservation depends on listening to those who live with wildlife, not only those who legislate from afar.”
Media Contact:
Tristan Breijer MBA FRGS FRSA MCIJ
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
CIC – International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation
tristan.breijer@cic-wildlife.org
+44 781 408 7423
www.cic-wildlife.org
