Doha, Qatar, April 2025 – Addressing the 71st General Assembly of the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC),Dr. Jurgen Tack, Secretary-General of the European Landowners’ Organization (ELO), delivered a compelling keynote speech emphasising the critical role landowners play in conservation and sustainable wildlife management.
Speaking during the session titled “Mediating the Future of Hunting: Engaging Stakeholders for Lasting Solutions,”Dr. Tack underlined that private landowners are the true custodians of biodiversity, as they directly manage the majority of Europe’s rural landscapes. He highlighted that successful conservation strategies depend fundamentally on collaboration and constructive dialogue with these land managers.
In his speech,Dr. Tack stated: “Without active involvement and cooperation of landowners, no conservation policy or wildlife management initiative can sustainably succeed. Landowners manage not only the habitats but also the delicate balance between agriculture, forestry, and wildlife. Their active participation and leadership are vital to achieving real-world conservation outcomes.”
Jurgen Tack ELO CIC GA 2025 AddressDr Tack further stressed the necessity of supportive policy frameworks that incentivise sustainable practices rather than impose restrictions. “To effectively conserve wildlife, policies must align with the economic and practical realities landowners face daily,” he noted. His call for pragmatic, inclusive policymaking was warmly received by delegates, who represent a diverse range of stakeholders from conservation, hunting, and land management sectors globally.
Following Dr. Tack’s keynote, an expert panel, moderated by Tristan Breijer, CIC’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, further explored these issues. Panellists including Carl von Eckermann (Natlink), Niels Søndergaard (Danish Hunting Association), and Sue Reid (Daily Mail, UK), echoed Tack’s call for deeper engagement with landowners and a balanced approach to conservation that acknowledges and integrates the roles of private stakeholders.
The 71st CIC General Assembly, hosted with the generous support of Qatar’s leadership, prominently placed mediation and stakeholder dialogue at the heart of discussions, recognising the essential need to bring diverse perspectives together for effective conservation solutions.
For further information, please contact:
Tristan Breijer MBA FRGS FRSA MCIJ
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
CIC – International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +44 781 408 7423
Website: www.cic-wildlife.org
