More than 40 young hunters, conservationists and friends of the CIC came together in Spain for the 2026 GYSU weekend (Generation of Youth for Sustainable Use). Participants were able to exchange ideas, discuss the future of sustainable use of wildlife and explore how young people can play a stronger role in conservation. The gathering included members of the Real Club de Monteros.

The discussions focused on the role of young people in hunting, conservation and the wider sustainable use community, with an emphasis on turning ideas into practical initiatives.

Giving Young People a Stronger Voice

A key topic was how young hunters and conservationists can become more involved in policy discussions and have their perspectives represented in decisions that shape their future.

Several ideas emerged from the discussions, including introducing a Children’s Day across CIC delegations and giving young hunters a stronger voice in EU youth policy, directly from Brussels.

Participants also highlighted the importance of connecting young researchers, creating opportunities for them to exchange knowledge, collaborate and contribute to the future of conservation, within a CIC researcher network.

Another priority was improving public understanding of hunting and conservation. With the aim of helping more people understand what hunting looks like in practice, and how it relates to wildlife management and conservation, the CIC Young Opinion will centralize the results of national polls regarding public perception on hunting and publish the main findings at the European level.

Get Involved with CIC Young Opinion

CIC Young Opinion provides a platform for young people interested in hunting, conservation and sustainable use to connect, exchange ideas and contribute to ongoing discussions.

CIC thanks everyone who took part in GYSU 2026, shared their perspectives and helped move the conversations forward.

Young hunters, conservationists and others who want to get involved are invited to contact CIC to learn more about the Young Opinion and how they can contribute.

The future of hunting and conservation will be shaped by the people who take part in it. GYSU 2026 was another step towards ensuring that the next generation has the connections and opportunities to make its voice heard.