INDIA TO HOST FIRST INTERNATIONAL BIG CAT SUMMIT
Why in the News?
- India will host the first-ever International Big Cat Alliance Summit in New Delhi from June 1–3.
- The summit is expected to adopt the ‘Delhi Declaration’, a global framework for big cat conservation and habitat protection incorporating environmental clearances and environmental impact assessment protocols.
Key highlights of the summit
- Global participation: Representatives from 95 countries are expected to attend.
- Alliance members: IBCA includes 24 member countries and 3 observer countries.
- Species covered: Focuses on conservation of tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, and pumas.
- Theme: “Save big cats, save humanity, save ecosystem.”
- Agenda areas: Cooperation in research, habitat conservation aligned with the Forest Conservation Act, anti-poaching, innovation, capacity building, and transboundary management following the precautionary principle and polluter pays principle.
Significance for India and global conservation
- Global leadership: Strengthens India’s position as a leader in wildlife conservation diplomacy and environmental jurisprudence.
- Ecosystem protection: Big cats act as umbrella species, ensuring broader biodiversity conservation and a pollution free environment.
- Transboundary cooperation: Encourages joint efforts among countries sharing wildlife corridors, coastal regulation zone areas, and migratory populations through environmental democracy principles.
- Climate linkage: Conserving habitats supports carbon sequestration and ecological resilience.
- Soft power projection: Enhances India’s international image through environmental stewardship and sustainability initiatives guided by the EIA notification framework.
| International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) ● Launch: Officially launched by Narendra Modi in 2023. ● Objective: Promote global cooperation for the protection and conservation of seven major big cat species while ensuring environmental clearance compliance. ● Nature: A multilateral platform for knowledge-sharing, funding support, and conservation coordination drawing from landmark cases like the Vanashakti judgment. ● Importance of big cats: They maintain ecological balance and healthy food chains in forest ecosystems. ● UPSC relevance: Important for environment, biodiversity conservation, and international cooperation (GS Paper III). |