Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, chaired a high-level meeting on the ‘Collaborative Initiative for Big Cat Conservation’, under the framework of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), in New Delhi today. The meeting brought together Ambassadors and High Commissioners of Big-cat range countries, alongside senior officials from Government of India. 

Chairing the meeting, Shri Yadav reiterated that IBCA is the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, designed as a partnership-driven global initiative anchored in trust, mutual respect and shared responsibility. He highlighted the global ecological value of big cats. The Minister emphasized that big cats - tigers, lions, snow leopards, cheetahs, leopards, pumas and jaguars - are more than charismatic animals. They are apex predators, regulators of ecological balance, and sentinels of ecosystem health. “We aim at working together to improve their habitat by capacity building and knowledge sharing for green growth of the entire area”, he stated.

As India would be hosting the Global Big Cats Summit in New Delhi in 2026, the Minister invited all big-cat range countries to share strategies, experiences and best practices for conserving big cats and their habitats. Shri Yadav also extended a warm invitation to all countries harbouring big cats to join IBCA and strengthen global cooperation. He stated that IBCA provides a platform “to share your strengths, to learn from each other, and contribute to a global partnership that protects species, safeguards ecosystems, and builds climate resilience for generations to come.” 

Underlining India’s conservation ethos, the Minister stated, “Conservation is not activism, it’s our lifestyle”. He stressed that India’s approach is rooted in innovative nature-based solutions, integrated with the country’s cultural ethos. He further added that economic progress must be viewed not only in conventional terms but through enhancement of ecological balance. The Minister informed that IBCA has now entered its next phase. With its Secretariat established in New Delhi, 18 countries have formally joined the Alliance, 3 countries have Observer Status, and several international organizations are contributing to the shared mission. 

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen knowledge-sharing, capacity building and collaborative action among all big-cat range nations. India reaffirmed its resolve to work with global partners to secure a sustainable future for the world’s seven big cat species and their habitats.

 

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