International Big Cat Alliance Becomes A Treaty Based Organisation from Vajirao & Reddy Institute

INTERNATIONAL BIG CAT ALLIANCE BECOMES A TREATY BASED ORGANISATION

• The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) officially came into force as a full-fledged treaty-based inter-governmental organization on January 23, 2025.
• This marks a significant milestone in global conservation efforts aimed at protecting seven iconic big cat species: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.
• The IBCA, with its headquarters in India, aims to bring together countries and organizations to collaborate on conserving these species.

• Formation of IBCA:
  • The Framework Agreement establishing the IBCA has officially come into force, transitioning the alliance into an international legal entity.
  • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India, which is the depository of the Framework Agreement, confirmed that 5 countries have ratified the agreement and become formal members:
    • Republic of Nicaragua
    • Kingdom of Eswatini
    • Republic of India
    • Federal Republic of Somalia
    • Republic of Liberia
  • As of now, 27 countries, including India, have consented to join the IBCA.
• Launch and Approval:
  • The IBCA was initially launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 9, 2023, during an event commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger.
  • The Union Cabinet of India approved the establishment of IBCA in February 2024, with the organization headquartered in India.
  • The establishment of IBCA is a concerted effort by the Government of India, with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) playing key roles.
• IBCA's Mission and Goals:
  • The main objective of the IBCA is the conservation of 7 major big cat species that are either endangered or vulnerable.
  • The alliance aims to facilitate collaboration among nations and stakeholders, consolidating successful conservation practices and expertise to work toward the global protection of big cats.
  • It aims to halt the decline in big cat populations and reverse the current negative trends, with a focus on reducing threats like habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.

• Collaboration and Synergy: IBCA serves as a collaborative platform for governments, wildlife organizations, and conservation experts to share knowledge, research, and resources.
• Global Repository: The alliance will provide a central repository for best practices, technical know-how, and financial support for big cat conservation projects.
• Strengthening Existing Platforms: IBCA will strengthen existing species-specific intergovernmental platforms, networks, and transnational initiatives focused on conservation and protection.
• Climate Change Mitigation: The alliance is also focused on mitigating the effects of climate change on big cat habitats and ensuring long-term ecological sustainability.

• The IBCA invites all UN member countries, especially those that are range countries (countries where these big cats are found) and non-range countries (countries historically not home to these species but supportive of big cat conservation), to join the initiative.
• The alliance will also collaborate with national and international organizations already working in wildlife conservation.