International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026, Key Details

India is set to host the first-ever International Big Cat Alliance Summit on June 1, 2026, in New Delhi. The summit marks a major step in strengthening global cooperation for the conservation of big cats and their habitats.

About International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026

• The summit will be held on June 1, 2026, with participation expected from Heads of State, Heads of Government, member countries, observer nations, conservation experts, and international organisations.
• Theme: Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem.
• The summit seeks to create a global platform for discussing challenges, opportunities, and collaborative strategies related to big cat conservation.
• A major focus of the summit will be strengthening international cooperation in areas such as wildlife protection, habitat conservation, scientific research, capacity building, and prevention of illegal wildlife trade.
• The summit will highlight India’s achievements in wildlife conservation, including initiatives related to tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, and cheetahs.
• One of the most important expected outcomes of the summit is the adoption of the “Delhi Declaration” on big cat conservation.
• The proposed Delhi Declaration is expected to define shared global priorities, promote transboundary cooperation, and encourage a landscape-based approach for conserving big cats and their habitats.

Landscape-Based Approach for Conserving Big Cats 

A landscape-based approach to conserving big cats (tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, cougars) shifts from isolated protected areas to managing entire ecosystems, connecting habitats, and integrating community livelihoods.

Key Components of Landscape-Based Conservation:

• Connectivity and Corridors: Establishing “green corridors” to link fragmented habitats, allowing wildlife to move safely, find mates, and maintain genetic diversity, such as in India’s tiger landscapes.
• Community Stewardship: Empowering local people through community-based conservation, eco-tourism, and livestock protection measures, treating people, livelihoods, and ecosystems as a single system.
• Transboundary Cooperation: Enabling international partnerships to manage landscapes that cross borders, such as the Himalaya range or the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) initiative.
• Holistic Planning: Integrating social, economic, and ecological systems, which helps mitigate human-wildlife conflict and addresses habitat encroachment.
• Technology and Finance: Utilizing AI, drones, and satellite monitoring for proactive management, and securing funds through green bonds or eco-investments.

International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026 Significance

• For the first time, world leaders will convene exclusively to deliberate on big cat conservation across continents.
• The summit will strengthen international partnerships and cooperation among big cat range countries.
• It will promote South-South cooperation through the sharing of conservation knowledge and best practices.
• The summit will help align wildlife conservation efforts with global biodiversity, ecological sustainability, and climate goals.

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About International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

The idea of International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was first proposed by the Prime Minister of India in 2019 and officially launched in April 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger.

• About: IBCA is a multi-country, multi-agency coalition of 95 big cat range countries, non-range countries with an interest in big cat conservation, conservation partners, scientific organizations engaged in big cat research, as well as business groups and corporates committed to supporting big cat conservation efforts. 
• Headquarters: The organisation is headquartered in India.
• Aim: It aims to promote international collaboration for wildlife conservation through scientific management, policy coordination, technological cooperation, and habitat protection.
• Big Cats Covered Under the IBCA: Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma. These species are ecologically important apex predators and play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance and biodiversity.
• Membership: Membership is open to all United Nations (UN) member States. 
  • The Signatory Countries shall become Parties to this Agreement after they have deposited an instrument of ratification, acceptance, or approval, and Countries acceded to this Agreement.