“Together, we can build a strong, inclusive and action-oriented platform to secure the future of these magnificent species,” Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav said, urging the remaining countries to join the coalition, an inter-governmental organization headquartered in Delhi.
He also launched the website and logo of the first IBCA Summit, which will adopt the first global declaration on big cat conservation (Delhi Declaration), establish an unifying framework to strengthen international cooperation and strengthen the Alliance’s role as a leading global platform for conservation efforts.
Describing it as a “strategically important” summit, Yadav said it would strengthen international partnerships, promote South-South cooperation and inspire collective action across major countries. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said, “It will also help in aligning conservation efforts with global biodiversity and climate goals.”
The alliance, the brainchild of India, was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 9, 2023, during an event to commemorate 50 years of Project Tiger in India, which aims to conserve the seven big cats – tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar and puma – in coordination with other countries. Excluding the jaguar and puma, India is home to five big cats.
The primary objective of the Coalition is to facilitate collaboration and synergy among stakeholders, strengthening successful conservation practices and expertise to achieve the conservation of big cats at a global scale.
Apart from India, countries that have already formally joined as members include Russia, Cambodia, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Armenia, Ethiopia, Mongolia and Rwanda.
Guided by the theme ‘Save the Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save the Ecosystem’, the upcoming summit will bring together over 400 conservationists, policy makers, scientists, multilateral agencies, financial institutions, corporate leaders and community representatives from around the world.
