The Framework Agreement on establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) has officially come into force.
- From 23rd January, 2025, the IBCA and its Secretariat have become a full-fledged treaty based inter-governmental international organization and international legal entity.
- The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India (the Depository of the Framework Agreement) has confirmed that five countries have deposited the instruments of ratification/acceptance/approval, under the Article VIII (1) of the Framework Agreement.
- As of now, 27 countries including India have consented to join IBCA and several international/national organisations working in the field of wildlife conservation have also partnered with IBCA.
About IBCA
- The IBCA was launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 9th April,2023, during the event ‘Commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger’.
- IBCA, with headquarters in India, was launched with the aim of conservation of seven big cats – Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma.
- All UN members/the range countries harbouring the said species and non-range countries where historically these species are not found but interested to support big cat conservation can became the members of IBSA.
- The IBCA was established by Government of India, through the nodal organisation viz., National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), vide order dated 12th March, 2024.
(Source: PIB)
