Why is News :
- The 1st assembly of the IBCA convened in New Delhi, endorsed the India’s Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, as the President of IBCA.
The Assembly of the IBCA serves as its apex decision-making body and is convened at least once every 2 years
What is IBCA?
- Full Form: International Big Cat Alliance
- Launched: April 2023 (to mark 50 years of Project Tiger)
- Type: Multilateral, multi-agency coalition
- Members:
- 95 countries – includes big cat range countries + non-range countries supporting conservation
- Founding Members (16): Armenia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ecuador, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Peru, Suriname, Uganda
- India:
- Host country and Permanent Secretariat
- Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav elected IBCA President
Big Cats under IBCA Focus
Species Covered:
- Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, Puma (Cougar)
Governance Structure
IBCA Assembly:
- Apex decision-making body
- Meets at least once every two years
- Functions:
- Policy formulation
- Sharing best practices
- Promoting technical & financial cooperation
Significance of Big Cat Conservation
Biodiversity Protection:
- Big cats are keystone species; their survival ensures ecosystem balance and trophic regulation
- Example: Decline in tigers disrupts prey populations and forest dynamics.
Climate Change Mitigation:
- Big cat habitats include forests, grasslands, and snow ecosystems, which are natural carbon sinks.
- Protecting them preserves watersheds and microclimates.
Economic Benefits:
- Promotes ecotourism and green jobs in forest-fringe communities.
- Examples: Tiger tourism in India, Jaguar ecotourism in Latin America.
Global Cooperation:
- Enhances south-south cooperation and knowledge transfer in wildlife management.
- Strengthens transboundary conservation efforts.
India’s Role in Wildlife Leadership
- Leads Project Tiger, Project Elephant, Project Snow Leopard, and Cheetah Reintroduction.
- Hosts IBCA Secretariat – reinforcing India’s global environmental diplomacy.
- Aligns with SDG 15 (Life on Land) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
UPSC Relevance :
GS2: International Relations
Global Environmental Cooperation
GS3: Environment
Biodiversity Conservation, Wildlife Protection
Mains Practice Question
Q. Discuss the objectives and significance of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) in the context of global biodiversity conservation. What role can India play in shaping its outcomes?