India Calls for Global Participation in Big Cat Conservation Summit Ahead of IBCA Launch | India News
“Together, we can build a strong, inclusive and action-oriented platform to secure the future of this magnificent species,” said Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, urging the rest of the range of countries to join the coalition, an intergovernmental body 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 a unified framework to strengthen international cooperation and strengthen the Alliance’s role as a leading global platform for conservation efforts.Calling it a “strategically important” summit, Yadav said it will strengthen international partnerships, promote South-South cooperation and inspire collective action in the big cat range countries. “It will also help align conservation efforts with global biodiversity and climate goals,” the minister said on the occasion.The Alliance was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 9, 2023, during an event marking 50 years of Project Tiger in India, which aims to coordinate the seven big cats – tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar and puma – with other countries. Apart from jaguar and puma, there are five big cats in India.The Alliance’s primary objective is to foster collaboration and coordination among stakeholders, pooling successful conservation practices and expertise to achieve the conservation of big cats worldwide.Apart from India, countries that have already officially joined as members include Russia, Cambodia, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Armenia, Ethiopia, Mongolia and Rwanda.The upcoming summit, guided by the theme ‘Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystems’, will bring together more than 400 conservationists, policymakers, scientists, multilateral organizations, financial institutions, corporate leaders and community representatives from around the world.
