Bhupender Yadav inaugurates new IBCA headquarters in New Delhi

New Delhi: The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Monday inaugurated the new office premises of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) at 55 Lodhi Estate in New Delhi, marking a new chapter in the organisation’s efforts to strengthen international cooperation for the conservation of the world’s big cats.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior government officials, representatives of international organisations and other dignitaries. Dr. S.P. Yadav, Director General of IBCA, welcomed the Union Minister and the guests, providing an overview of the alliance’s activities, programmes and conservation initiatives.

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Among those present were Santosh Tewari, Director General of Forests and Special Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, along with senior ministry officials.

The event also saw participation from the Union Minister of External Affairs, the Director General of the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA), the Director General of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and the Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

Representatives of several international and United Nations organisations based in India also attended the event, including the United Nations, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank, UNICEF, Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS).

IBCA: A global alliance for big cat conservation

The International Big Cat Alliance is a treaty-based intergovernmental international organisation established with its headquarters in India to promote the conservation of seven major big cat species: the tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar and puma.

The alliance aims to strengthen international collaboration, facilitate knowledge-sharing and support conservation efforts to protect these species and their habitats across their global ranges.

The Government of India has committed an initial contribution of Rs. 150 crore to the alliance for a five-year period covering 2023-24 to 2027-28.

According to the information released by the government, 29 countries, including India, have joined the alliance as members. Five countries have opted for observer status, while another 11 countries have expressed their consent to become members.

Capacity building and international engagement

In the two-and-a-half years since its establishment, IBCA has undertaken several initiatives to advance its conservation objectives and build international cooperation.

Under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs, the alliance has organised two capacity-building programmes for participants from different countries. These programmes are aimed at strengthening expertise and sharing knowledge on big cat conservation.

IBCA has also conducted the PRIME Cat Health Programme for veterinary doctors from 20 countries, focusing on the importance of animal health and veterinary expertise in conservation efforts.

The organisation has expanded its engagement with international environmental and wildlife conservation platforms, participating in major forums and meetings, including the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties, and meetings of the CITES Standing Committee.

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In addition to institutional cooperation and technical programmes, IBCA has undertaken awareness and outreach initiatives, including international webinars and global photography competitions, to promote awareness about big cat conservation.

The inauguration of its new premises in New Delhi provides the alliance with a dedicated headquarters in India as it continues to develop partnerships with member countries, international institutions and conservation stakeholders to advance the protection of the world's seven major big cat species.

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