Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav Presides Over First Assembly of IBCA in New Delhi.
National
On 16 June 2025, New Delhi hosted the inaugural assembly of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA). The meeting, chaired by Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav, marked a significant milestone in global cooperation for the conservation of seven major big cat species.
- Launched in April 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger, the IBCA is a coalition formed through India's National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Ministry of Environment. It includes nearly 95–97 member countries devoted to preserving Tigers, Lions, Leopards, Snow Leopards, Cheetahs, Jaguars, and Pumas.
- Representatives from nine Big Cat range nations—Bhutan, Cambodia, Eswatini, Guinea, Liberia, Suriname, Somalia, Kazakhstan, and India—attended the assembly to endorse foundational agreements and commit to joint conservation strategies.
- The Assembly unanimously elected Bhupendra Yadav as President of IBCA, and Dr. S.P. Yadav was endorsed as the Director General, establishing the organization's leadership structure.
Main Point :- (i) Participants ratified the IBCA–India Headquarters Agreement, adopted internal rules of procedure, approved financial protocols and staff manuals, and confirmed the outcomes of the steering committee.
(ii) Minister Bhupendra Yadav highlighted India's monumental progress in wildlife conservation—such as protecting over 70% of the world's wild tigers and reintroducing cheetahs. He called on member nations to adopt a collective conservation approach to combat poaching, safeguard habitats, and improve ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change.
(iii) With a seed grant of ₹150 crore allocated for five years (2023–24 to 2027–28), IBCA aims to build technical capacity, share conservation best practices, and mobilize global resources. Priority actions include anti-poaching measures, habitat restoration, and community-driven wildlife protection initiatives.
About Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
Union Minister: Bhupender Yadav
Headquarters: New Delhi
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