70th CIC General Assembly
18-21 April 2024
Cascais, Portugal
Bridges to Biodiversity
The upcoming General Assembly in Portugal will be held under the theme "Bridges to Biodiversity," a powerful message paying tribute to Portugal's historical significance as a hub of cultural exchange. It symbolizes the interconnectedness of humans, animals, and the environment, emphasizing unity in diversity. "Bridges to Biodiversity" also recognizes the CIC's pivotal role as a bridge builder, aligning with the Global Biodiversity Framework and leading the way in global conservation efforts. It signifies the urgent need for solidarity and unity between the Global North and South to address environmental challenges and calls for action to mend the fractures, restore ecosystems, and strengthen the bonds that tie us to nature. The conference holds the potential to be a crucial step towards a more interconnected world, bridging the gaps between people and between humanity and nature.
Date
18-21 April 2024
Welcome
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Dear Members,
Dear Friends of the CIC,
As the pressures on biodiversity, people and the planet grow with each passing day, so too does the need for cooperation to enact global change. It is with this in mind that we have chosen upon the theme for the 70th General Assembly in Cascais, Bridges to Biodiversity.
The CIC has always worked as a convener, bringing together stakeholders from different sectors and disciplines across all of state and civil society.
As a bridge builder, we need to understand the best ways to create alliances that work in harmony to build a truly interconnected world.
How can we empower hunters as stewards of our natural world? How do we bring together rural voices and policymakers? How can we link sustainable use and the wildlife economy? All this and more will be explored in Cascais as part of an action-packed agenda with Technical Sessions and keynote speakers, all as part of an open forum for in-depth discussion.
Perhaps most important of all, we will be unveiling the CIC 2030 Programme which is due to be adopted as part of General Assembly proceedings.
Carefully crafted over the past year, the Programme is founded on outputs from the 69th General Assembly and will work to support global conservation goals such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The Programme will serve as a roadmap for the CIC up until the end of this decade, which will also mark the 100th anniversary since the establishment of our organisation.
I therefore welcome you to join us in Cascais to be a part of this new chapter for the CIC.
Dr. Philipp Harmer
President of the CIC
Dear Members of the CIC, As Head of the Portuguese Delegation, it is an honour for me to welcome Members and friends of the CIC to join us in Cascais for the 70th General Assembly. This marks the return of the General Assembly to our country after a period of 60 years, with the CIC last holding its General Assembly in the iconic city of Lisbon back in 1963. I could not think of a more fitting location for this special occasion given our upcoming theme, Bridges to Biodiversity. The theme is reflective of our nation’s rich history as a hub that connects continents and celebrates a blend of diverse cultures. From our history to our culture - our art to our cuisine - Portugal's vibrant tapestry has been woven together by an interplay of worldwide traditions. Over the course of your stay in Cascais, we hope to show you some of these traditions through a number of exciting Technical Sessions, exhibitions and special events we have lined up. In doing so, we will look to highlight the intrinsic link between humans, animals, and the environment, underscoring its historical connection to hunters and sustainable hunting practices. The General Assembly is also of course an occasion for the extended CIC Network to come together in celebration. With all it has to offer, Cascais will serve as the perfect backdrop for us all to reunite and engage in delightful discussions. I hope to see you all personally this coming April. Dr. Alvaro Moreira Head of Delegation
Dear Participant, Dear Ambassador of Cascais! Bom dia! It’s a true honour to welcome you to the best place to live for a day or a lifetime, Cascais. My name is Bernardo Corrêa de Barros, a passionate Cascais inhabitant, with the privilege of being the President of Cascais Tourism Board. Despite your short visit, I hope you have the chance to experience a little bit of Cascais atmosphere and our very special way of life – the good energy of the immense sea ahead and the 300 days of sun. The People of Cascais is our greatest asset, but we also have the beaches and landscapes, fresh fish and seafood at every corner, our vibrant events calendar, and certainly the good vibes! Pretty much the enchantment of the simple things in life! Enjoy and be very happy in Cascais, for a day or a lifetime. Bernardo Corrêa de Barros President of the Cascais Tourism Board
Draft Program
April 2024
18th
CIC Business Meetings
10:00-17:00 Registration 13:00-14:45 CIC Council Meeting (Including State Members and National Association Meetings) 14:45-15:00 Coffee break 15.00 - 16:45 CIC Council Meeting (Including State Members and National Association Meetings) 16:45-17:00 Coffee break 17:00 - 18:30 CIC Executive Committee Meeting 19:00 Reception & Council dinner
19th
Bridges to Biodiversity
07:30-20:00 Registration 09:00-09:45 Opening Ceremony 70th General Assembly Welcome Address: Álvaro Moreira, Head of Portuguese Delegation of the CIC Carlos Carreiras, Mayor of Cascais Opening Address: Dr. Philipp Harmer, President of the CIC Keynote Address: Humberto Delgado Rosa, Director Biodiversity, DG Environment, European Commission 09:45-10:00 Hunting in Portugal Dr. Artur Torres Pereira, President CIC Portuguese National General Assembly & President Clube Português de Monteiros 10:00-10:45 Bridges to Biodiversity – Spotlight on the Portuguese Perspective Introduction and Moderation: Dr. Artur Torres Pereira, President CIC Portuguese National General Assembly & President Clube Português de Monteiros Panel discussion: Helena Freitas, Universidade de Coimbra João Maria Bravo, President of Sodarca Group Nuno Banza, President of Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas (ICNF), Portugal Dr. José A. Alves, Principal Researcher at CESAM, University of Aveiro Dr. Paulo Célio Alves, Associate Professor at the University of Porto 10:45-11:15 Coffee break 11:15-12:00 Bridging Humanity: Unveiling the Untold Stories of Hunting and Conservation Introduction: Dr. Zoltán Kovács, Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Relations of Hungary & Head of CIC Delegation Hungary Keynote Speaker: Dr. Robert Kroger, Founder and Executive Director of Blood Origins 12:00-13:00 Lunch break 13:00-13:05 Bridging Hunting Communities: Enabling a Connected Hunting and Game Management Experience Carl von Eckermann, CEO of Natlink 13:05-14:45 Bridging Continents: North American Insights for Global Conservation Introduction and Moderation: Shane Mahoney, President of CIC Policy and Law Division Panel Presentations and Discussion: Ron Regan, Executive Director, Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Tony Wasley, President, Wildlife Management Institute Corey Mason, CEO, Dallas Safari Club and DSC Foundation Benjamin Cassidy, Director of Government Affairs, Safari Club International 14:45-15:00 Charting the Course: Defining Success and Framing Our Dialogue Sebastian Winkler, Director General of the CIC 15:00-15:30 Bridges to Biodiversity: CIC Response on Hunting’s Role in the Global Biodiversity Framework Moderator: Sebastian Winkler, Director General of the CIC Panel Discussion: Prof. Dr. Klaus Hackländer, President of CIC Applied Science Division Shane Mahoney, President of Conservation Visions & President of CIC Policy and Law Division 15:30-15:50 Coffee break 15:50-16:30 Applied Science Division Session 1: Small Game in Europe (ROOM1) Moderator: Dr. Francis Buner, CIC Applied Science Division, Small Game Specialist Group Keynote: Dr. Jacques Trouvilliez, Executive Secretary of UNEP/AEWA Péter Pál Hajas, Perdix Central Europe *** Culture Division Session 1: Hunting, Food, and Culture in the Amazon (ROOM 3) Moderator: Thomas Paulic, Project Coordinator at the CIC Keynote: Flávio Bezerra Barros, Professor at the Federal University of Pará and Advisor to the Lula Presidency on Indigenous Peoples 16:30-17:10 Policy and Law Division Session 1: The Conservation Relevancies of Wild Meat Harvesting (ROOM 1) Introduction and Moderator: Shane Mahoney, President of Conservation Visions (Wild Harvest Initiative) & President of CIC Policy and Law Division Presentation: Lauren Coad, CIFOR Bushmeat Initiative *** Culture Division Session 2: Communicating Hunting for Social Acceptance (ROOM 3) Moderator : International Communications Expert Keynote: Sarah Roberts, Environmental Author, British Uplands Podcast 17:10-17:50 Policy and Law Division Session 2: Introduction to Global Wildlife Economy Assessment (ROOM 1) Moderator: Sebastian Winkler, Director General of the CIC Keynote: Shane Mahoney, President of Conservation Visions (Wild Harvest Initiative) & President of CIC Policy and Law Division Craig Bruce, Director Conservation and Communities at Jamma International *** Applied Science Division Session 2: Large Carnivore Management in Europe (ROOM 3) Moderator: Prof. Dr. Klaus Hackländer, President of CIC Applied Science Division Keynote: Dr. Valeria Salvatori, General Secretary of the Istituto di Ecologia Applicata João Carvalho, Secretary General of the Portuguese Chapter of the European Landowners Organisation 19:20 Presidential Reception for Donors – Hotel Palacio, Estoril Bus departs from Hotel Miragem at 18:40 20:00 Welcome dinner at the Hotel Palacio, Estoril Dress code: Hunting elegant Bus departs from Hotel Miragem at 19:00
20th
Members Assembly
09:00-09:30 Division Presidents: Shane Mahoney (Policy and Law), Bernardin Malou (Culture), Prof. Dr. Klaus Hackländer (Applied Science) 09:30-10:15 Bridging Nations for 2030 Biodiversity Action: Uniting Existing and New State Members Moderator: Dr. Philipp Harmer, President of the CIC H.E. Mr. Dumezweni Mthimkhulu, Botswana, Minister of Environment and Tourism H.E. Mr. Pohamba Penomwenyo Shifeta, Namibia, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism H.E. Sheikh Fahad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar, Member of the Ruling Family and Officer in the Qatar Armed Forces Brigadier General Donato Monaco, Italy, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Agriculture Food Sovereignty and Forests 10:15-10:50 Optics Over Outcome: Trophy Bans in Environmental Politics Moderator: Wilfried Pabst, CIC Advisor Catherine Chambaud, Head of French Delegation of the CIC Denis Slobodyan, Head of United Kingdom Delegation of the CIC Michel Mantheakis, CIC member, Tanzania, CIC Advisor, Africa Tristan B. Breijer, Policy Advisor at FACE Stephan Wunderlich, Communications and Policy Coordinator at the CIC 10:50-11:10 Coffee break 11:10-11:30 Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) Session Moderator: Dr. Robert Kroger, Founder and Executive Director of Blood Origins Flávio Bezerra Barros, Professor at the Federal University of Pará and Advisor to the Lula Presidency on Indigenous Peoples Dr. Enkhtuvshin Shiilegdamba, CIC One Health Consultant Thabang Teffo, Head of Responsible Resource Management, SAWC 11:30-12:00 Artemis Session Beatrix Bán, President of CIC Artemis Working Group Susana Silva, CIC Portugal Member 12:00-12:15 CIC Regional Coordination Forums Mikael Antell, President of CIC Nordic and Baltic Regional Forum Dr. Imrich Suba, President of CIC Central and Eastern European Regional Forum 12:15-13:30 Lunch break 13:30-14:30 Young Opinion Session: Report Back on Global Youth for Sustainable Use (GYSU) and Other YO Activities Krzysztof Kowalewski, President of CIC Young Opinion Working Group YO Research Award: Alexandros Karabalis, CIC Belgium Member YO Promotion Video / Spatial responses of Wild Boar to Driven Hunts: Hortense Fabre, CIC France Member and Lukas Hamilton Eddy, CIC UK Member Panel Discussion / Eat, Prey, Dove: Is Meat the Key to a Good Public Image of Hunting Moderator: Oskar Tornvall, CIC Sweden Member Panelists: Audric Ranson, CIC Belgium Member Vandrille Spire, CIC France Member Gerard Brodin, Head of Swedish Delegation of the CIC David Plaz, CIC Treasurer & CIC Switzerland Member 14:30-15:00 Bridging Local Perspectives: Paving the Way Forward on One Health, Human-Wildlife Conflict and Climate Change Moderator: Dr. Enkhtuvshin Shiilegdamba, CIC One Health Consultant Case Studies from CIC National Delegations: Aibat Muzbay, Head of Kazakhstan Delegation of the CIC Olga Dzhochka, Head of Ukrainian Delegation of the CIC Merab Dvalidze, Senior Specialist at Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Kurt Alt, Conservation Director, Montana & International Programs, Wild Sheep Foundation 15:00-15:30 A Vaccine Against African Swine Fever Moderator: Count Dr. Torsten Mörner, Associate Professor of Wildlife Diseases at the University of Agricultural Sciences (Uppsala) & Vice President of the CIC Interventions: Dr. Árpád Sárkány, Vice President of the CIC Dr. José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno Rodríguez, Emerit Professor of the Department of Animal Health of the Veterinary School of the Complutense University of Madrid 15:30-16:00 Coffee break 16:00-16:20 Implications of Climate Change on Wildlife: Current Status of the Alpine Chamois Projects Prof. Dr. Klaus Hackländer, President CIC Applied Science Division 16:20-17:15 Moderator: Nick Doherty, CIC Legal Advisor Report of the President and Director General Divisions and Working Group Reports Deep Dive into the 2030 CIC Strategic Plan & Results from 2023 Membership Survey Dr. Philipp Harmer, President of CIC & Sebastian Winkler, Director General of CIC Alexandra Kalandarishvili, CIC Policy Coordinator Membership Report Adopting New Bylaws, Resolutions and Recommendations & CIC 2030 Strategic Plan Report of the Treasurer and Auditors 17:15-17:30 Celebrating the past and the future Awards ceremony Flag ceremony Closing remarks 20:00 Gala dinner Hunting Auction (Tristan Breijer, Chair CIC Auction Taskforce) Dress code: Black tie
21st
Excursion day
Mafra National Palace, UNESCO World Heritage Site 10:30 Departure from Cascais 10:50 Arrival in Mafra 11:00 Guided tour in English to the National Palace of Mafra (courtesy of the Municipality of Mafra and MNP) 12:30 Carrilhão (92 huge bells) Recital by carrilhanista (player) Abel Chaves (courtesy of the Municipality of Mafra and the MNP) 13:05 Lunch in the south tower of the MNP 14:30 Short tour of the historic center of Mafra 15:15 Return to Cascais *** Other option Selected Tours around Cascais, TBD
Guest Speakers
Humberto Delgado Rosa
Director for Biodiversity, DG Environment, European Commission
With several decades experience in European and international environmental policy, Humberto Delgado Rosa is a leading figure on biodiversity and climate change issues. In addition to his current role within the European Commission as Director for Biodiversity (DG Environment), he has previously held the role of Director for Mainstreaming Adaptation and Low Carbon Technology (DG Climate Action). His background is in evolutionary biology, on which he holds a PhD; he also served as Secretary of State for Environment of Portugal prior to his time with the European Commission.
Flavio Bezerra Barros
Professor at the Federal University of Pará & Advisor to President Lula da Silva of Brazil on Indigenous Peoples
Flavio Bezerra Barros is a professor and researcher at the Federal University of Pará - his background is in conservation with a PhD from the University of Lisbon. He is also an expert in anthropology, holding the position of Research Productivity Fellow with the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development. Prior to his current role, he held the position of President of the Brazilian Society of Ethnobiology and Ethnoecology.
Sarah Roberts
Environmental Author, British Uplands Podcast
Sarah Roberts is a biologist, environmental journalist and children’s author. Much of her work specialises on the topic of big predators, as well as communicating contentious topics to a wide audience.
Robbie Kröger
Founder and Executive Director, Blood Origins
A restoration ecologist with over 23 years experience in marrying environmental conservation priorities - including hunting - with the benefits to wildlife and people. Robbie Kröger is perhaps best known as the founder of Blood Origins, a critically acclaimed podcast series on hunting and conservation.
Madeline Lindhorst
Chief Editor of the German Hunting Magazine “JÄGER”
Madeline Lindhorst is among the most famous “hunting” influencers in her home nation of Germany - as well as further afield - with some 20,000 followers on Instagram alone. She is also the chief editor of the hunting magazine Jäger, which reports on current hunting policy, hunting ground practices, game biology and more.
Venue & Accommodation
Hotel Cascais Miragem Health & Spa *****
The main venue for the 70th General Assembly will be the Hotel Cascais Miragem Health & Spa. Ideally located in front of the Atlantic Ocean overlooking Estoril and Cascais Bay, the 5 star hotel is just 30 minutes from Lisbon's international airport and 15 minutes from the charming village of Sintra.
Its location also allows easy access on foot to the center of Cascais, Estoril, the sea, the mountains, and the city.
(March 28th / Update) The Miragem Health & Spa is now fully booked during the dates of the General Assembly and rooms are no longer available in the hotel.
If you are looking for accommodation during our event, we suggest you book a room in the InterContinental Cascais-Estoril (an IHG Hotel) which is a 10 minute walk from the conference venue.
Alternatively, attendees may consider the historically rich Palácio Estoril Hotel located 5 minutes away by taxi; it is also the venue for our Welcome Dinner on April 19th .
Getting to the Event- Hotel Cascais Miragem Health & Spa, is conveniently located near the beach and a five-minute walk from Cascais city center and the train station. For those interested, a transport service between the airport and the hotel is available. Please contact info@incognitparadise.com with the subject "CIC Congress in Cascais" and provide the following details: Name of passenger, total number of people, Pick-up Date, Flight Number. Reservations must be made by April 2nd.
Want to know more about the sights and sounds of Cascais?
We would refer you to the below resource, which details some of the restaurants, attractions and activities that will be available in the local region.
Make sure to check the listed attractions are relevant to Cascais!
For sponsorship and visibility opportunities, please get in touch with us at office@cic-wildlife.org or a.wimpffen@cic-wildlife.org
Excursion - 21st of April
Mafra, Portugal
Program:
10:30 Departure from Cascais
10:50 Arrival in Mafra
11:00 Guided tour in English to the National Palace of Mafra
12:30 Carrilhão (92 huge bells) Recital by carrilhanista (player) Abel Chaves
13:05 Lunch in the south tower of the MNP
14:30 Short tour of the historic center of Mafra
15:15 Return to Cascais
The National Palace of Mafra, UNESCO World Heritage
The National Palace of Mafra is a baroque architectural complex consisting of a royal palace, basilica, convent, garden and enclosure. Built in 1711 by King João V to fulfill a vow for the birth of a first-born son, the Mafra Palace hosts a variety of impressive collections and artefacts, contributing to the site being listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019.
For this Palace, King João V commissioned sculptures and paintings from Italian and Portuguese masters, Italian vestments, French tapestries and – in Flanders – two carillons with 92 bells. It also boasts a set of six historic organs in the basilica, on top of a library with around 30,000 volumes, making it the largest collection of books in a single room throughout all of Europe. From the convent nucleus, the infirmary stands out as a notable feature – the only surviving part from its original construction.
