Vienna, 17 April 2026

Mag. Norbert Totschnig, Federal Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management of the Republic of Austria, delivered a ministerial address to delegates gathered from 42 countries at the 72nd CIC General Assembly in Vienna.

As one of only two ministers in the European Union with responsibility for both agriculture and environment, Mag. Totschnig spoke of hunting’s central role in biodiversity conservation, sustainable land use, and rural policy, describing himself as a bridge builder working to reconcile competing interests.

He addressed three key challenges: the management of invasive species such as the golden jackal; the active management of large carnivores including the wolf; and the importance of collaboration between agriculture, nature conservation, and hunting. On the latter, he pointed to the Austrian Agri-Environmental Programme as a model that has delivered measurable improvements in biodiversity.

“As an integral part of all my considerations and actions is the contribution of hunting to biodiversity and species protection, as a form of sustainable land use and to the strengthening of rural areas.”

He closed with a tribute to outgoing CIC President Dr. Philipp Harmer:

“A heartfelt thank you to President Philipp Harmer for dedicating his life as a passionate advocate to hunting and species conservation. His tireless and voluntary commitment to the interests of land owners and the sustainable use of nature will never be forgotten.”

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