A changed political environment and ever increasing pressure on hunting and wildlife conservation as well as new fundamental paradigm shifts require modern approaches of a pro-active and leading global hunting organization.

 

In order to adapt the CIC to the new challenges that hunting faces in the 21st century and to improve the performance of the CIC as a professional international organisation and a key-player in the area of hunting, the activities of the previous Commissions and Working Groups have been streamlined into a structure of three Divisions: “Policy and Law”, “Applied Science” and “Culture”. This new structure was adopted unanimously at the CIC General Assembly in 2008 in Marrakech. The CIC’s objective is though also to maintain its character as close knit group of compassionate people, engaged in assuring the future of hunting.

Nowadays old dogmas are being thrown to the wind and new pragmatic solutions are taking their place. The technology of science is improving at breathtaking speed with important discoveries virtually every day.

 

One challenge is the accusation that hunting is having serious adverse effects on the hunted species: winter feeding, selecting trophies. Another problem with wildlife management is animals in fenced areas, where the CIC has made great strides in drawing sensible lines.

 

In Roman times lead was recognised as poison, but not known to affect un-shot game until 1876 when pellet ingestion was discovered in pheasants. However, only within the past few years has it become apparent that all game birds, predators and many other species are also being poisoned, also effecting human consumption.

 

Modern agriculture, particularly the use of herbicides and insecticides had depleted small game crucially. In the 1990s politicians realised that farmers could be compensated from public funds, hence the agri-environment measures, such as CIC’s “Habitat Fallow Land” project. The role of wild plants in reducing carbon emissions is being explored by our Biogas project. Linking science and politics is a crucial task for us.