Tirana — Albania has formally joined the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) as a State Member, joining 29 other countries in the CIC’s global network and establishing a framework for long-term cooperation on wildlife governance, monitoring, and the development of the country’s hunting legislation.
The accession was formalised on 22 May 2026 during a high-level round table in Tirana, co-organised by the Albanian Federation for Hunting and Conservation and the Ministry of Environment. The event brought together government officials, scientists, non-governmental organisations, and international representatives including Srečko Žerjav, Vice President of FACE and President of the Hunters’ Federation of Slovenia, and Jaroslaw Kuczaj, Permanent Representative of the Polish Hunting Association to FACE.
Minister of Environment Sofjan Jaupaj welcomed the partnership, noting that joining the CIC would help open doors to international expertise and modern approaches to sustainable hunting and rural development.
Technical discussions at the round table covered hunting territories, licensing systems, wildlife monitoring, hunting rangers, hunting fees, and wildlife health management. Participants emphasised the importance of ensuring local hunters’ associations and the national federation play a central role in future governance structures, maintaining clear representation between local and national levels, and avoiding excessive privatisation of hunting rights that could exclude local communities from their traditional stewardship roles. Future legislation is expected to align with international agreements including AEWA and the European Charter on Hunting and Biodiversity.
Albania’s State Membership is expected to support closer cooperation with European experts and institutions, the development of monitoring and management systems, future conservation projects linked to local hunting associations and rural communities, and stronger engagement on sustainable wildlife governance at the international level.
The accession marks an important step in Albania’s post-moratorium process, moving discussions towards practical implementation and long-term cooperation with the international conservation community.
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Notes to Editors
The CIC — International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation — is a global, not-for-profit organisation founded in 1930 and dedicated to biodiversity conservation through the responsible and sustainable use of wildlife. It operates in over 80 countries, uniting 30 state members, 97 NGO partners, and a membership of over 2,000 individuals and organisations. The CIC holds its headquarters in Vienna and its Administrative Office in Budapest, where it has been granted full diplomatic status. It is recognised as an International Inter-Governmental Observer Organisation to the United Nations.
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