International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA)
The International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) is an India-led global initiative focused on the conservation and protection of seven major big cat species: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma. It was officially launched by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2023 and has its headquarters in New Delhi, India.
Key Objectives and Features
The primary goal of the IBCA is to facilitate international cooperation and knowledge-sharing among stakeholders to halt the decline of big cat populations and reverse current trends.
- Focus Species: The alliance concentrates on seven "big cats," which include members of the Panthera genus (tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, jaguar) as well as the cheetah and puma.
- Global Collaboration: Membership is open to all 97 "range" countries that are home to these big cats, non-range countries, conservation partners, and scientific organizations.
- Knowledge Hub: The IBCA serves as a platform to consolidate and share successful conservation practices, research, and technical expertise into a centralized repository.
- Addressing Threats: The alliance aims to combat threats such as poaching, illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict.
- Financial Support: India has provided a one-time budgetary support of ₹150 crore (approx. $100 million) for five years (2023-24 to 2027-28) to kickstart the initiative, with future funding expected from member fees and other institutions.
- Ecosystem Health: Protecting these apex predators is crucial for maintaining ecological balance, supporting biodiversity, and contributing to climate change mitigation efforts by preserving healthy ecosystems.
Governance and Membership
The IBCA is a treaty-based inter-governmental organization with a structure that includes an Assembly of Members, a Standing Committee, and a Secretariat. The framework is modeled on the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
As of late 2024/early 2025, several countries have formally ratified the framework agreement, making the alliance a full-fledged international legal entity. These founding members include India, Nicaragua, Eswatini, Somalia, and Liberia. Over 27 countries have consented to join the alliance.
Download Pdf
