NEW DELHI: India, host of the upcoming first International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) summit on June 1-2, on Wednesday exhorted all big cat range countries that are not yet part of the Alliance to join it. So far, 25 of the total 95 range countries have joined this treaty-based global entity as members and another five as observers.
Minister's Call to Action
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav urged the remaining range countries to join the Alliance, stating, “Together, we can build a strong, inclusive, and action-oriented platform to secure the future of these magnificent species.” The IBCA is an inter-governmental organization headquartered in Delhi.
Launch of Summit Website and Logo
Yadav also launched the website and logo of the first IBCA Summit, which will adopt the first-ever global declaration on Big Cat conservation, known as the Delhi Declaration. This declaration aims to establish a unified framework to strengthen international cooperation and reinforce the Alliance’s role as a leading global platform for conservation efforts.
Strategic Significance
Calling it a “strategically significant” Summit, Yadav emphasized that it would strengthen international partnerships, promote south-south cooperation, and inspire collective action across big cat range countries. “It will also help align conservation efforts with global biodiversity and climate goals,” said the minister.
Background of the Alliance
The Alliance, India’s brainchild, was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an event commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger in India on April 9, 2023. Its aim is to conserve the seven big cats – Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma – in coordination with other countries. Except for Jaguar and Puma, India is home to five big cats.
The primary objective of the Alliance is to facilitate collaboration and synergy among stakeholders, consolidating successful conservation practices and expertise to achieve global big cat conservation.
Member Countries
Besides India, countries that have already formally joined as members include Russia, Cambodia, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Armenia, Ethiopia, Mongolia, and Rwanda, among others.
Summit Details
The upcoming Summit, guided by the theme ‘Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem’, will bring together over 400 conservationists, policymakers, scientists, multilateral agencies, financial institutions, corporate leaders, and community representatives from across the globe.
