Global Big Cat Summit to promote South–South cooperation: Bhupender Yadav

UNion environs government minister Bhupender Yadav on wed said the upcoming world-wide vainglorious Cat Summit, to be held by the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) on June 1–2, will adopt the Delhi Declaration on Big Cat Conservation, a unified global commitment to strengthen transboundary cooperation and protect big cats and their habitats.Yadav also launched the website and logo for the first International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026.The upcoming IBCA Summit in June will bring together heads of State/Government, experts, and partners from across the world to deliberate on the future of big cat conservation. “The Summit is strategically significant as it will 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,” Yadav said.Urging all big cat range countries yet to join IBCA to join the alliance, Yadav said, “I would like to take this opportunity to urge all present here to extend their full support in ensuring participation at the highest level from your respective countries. Your leadership and engagement will be critical in making this Summit a truly global success.”“From the success of Project Tiger to initiatives in lion, leopard, snow leopard, and cheetah conservation, India has demonstrated that conservation and development can go hand in hand. These efforts have not only strengthened ecosystems but also improved livelihoods, enhanced resilience, and mitigated climate challenges,” Yadav added.At present, 24 countries are members of IBCA, including Angola, Armenia, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Guatemala, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal and Russia, among others.The IBCA was established by the Government of India in 2024 through its nodal organisation, the National Tiger Conservation Authority, under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The primary objective of IBCA is to facilitate collaboration and synergy among range countries and other stakeholders.The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal for India to become a member country of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) by signing and ratifying the framework agreement for its establishment in 2024.The primary objective of IBCA is to facilitate collaboration and synergy among stakeholders, consolidating successful conservation practices and expertise into a centralised repository. Along with financial support for focused conservation efforts, IBCA plans to halt the decline in big cat populations and reverse current trends.The IBCA was launched for the conservation of tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, cheetahs, jaguars and pumas. It provides membership to all United Nations member states, including range countries harbouring these species, as well as non-range countries interested in supporting big cat conservation.