International Big Cat Alliance

International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Latest News

Recently, the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) signed an official agreement with the Government of India, formally establishing India as the headquarters and secretariat of the alliance.

About the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

• Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2023 during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger. Formally approved by the Union Cabinet in February 2024.
• Implementation agency: The IBCA is implemented through the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Objective: To conserve seven major big cat species across the world: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar, and Cheetah.
• Current ratifying members: India, Nicaragua, Eswatini, Somalia, Liberia are the initial countries that ratified the IBCA Framework Agreement.
• Membership: Membership is open to all UN Member States, including:
  • Range countries, where big cats naturally occur.
  • Non-range countries that are interested in supporting global conservation of big cats.

IBCA as a Global Legal Entity

• India formally joined the IBCA in September 2023, after ratifying the framework agreement.
• The IBCA became a treaty-based intergovernmental organisation after five countries ratified the framework agreement. These include India, Nicaragua, Eswatini, Somalia, and Liberia.
• Institutional Support and Funding: India has committed ₹150 crore (for the period 2023–2028) as budgetary support for:
  • Creating a corpus fund,
  • Building infrastructure, and
  • Covering recurring expenses of the IBCA.

International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) FAQs

Q1. What is the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)?
Ans. The International Big Cat Alliance is a global initiative launched by India in 2023 to facilitate collaboration in the protection and conservation of seven big cat species: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar, and Cheetah.

Q2. Which organisation leads the IBCA?
Ans. The International Big Cat Alliance is led by India, leveraging its Project Tiger experience, and aims to unite countries for research, training, and conservation financing.

Q3. Why was the IBCA established?
Ans. The IBCA was created to combat poaching, illegal wildlife trade, and habitat loss, while fostering transboundary cooperation among range countries for big cat conservation.

Source: IE