International Big Cat Alliance

 

International Big Cat Alliance: A Global Initiative for Big Cat Conservation

The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), which will have its headquarters in India. The IBCA is a mega global alliance launched by India in April 2023 during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger. The alliance aims at conservation of world’s seven principal big cats, which include the tiger, lion, snow leopard, leopard, jaguar, puma, and cheetah.

What is the objective and scope of the International Big Cat Alliance?

The objective of the International Big Cat Alliance is to promote cooperation and coordination among the 97 big cat range countries, non-range countries, conservation partners, scientific organizations, business groups, and corporates for the conservation and protection of the big cats and their habitats. The IBCA will also support the existing species-specific intergovernmental platforms, such as the Global Tiger Forum, the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

The scope of the International Big Cat Alliance covers the following aspects:
Knowledge sharing: The IBCA will facilitate the exchange of information, data, best practices, and lessons learned on big cat conservation among the alliance members and partners.
Capacity building: The IBCA will provide training, technical assistance, and mentoring to the alliance members and partners on various aspects of big cat conservation, such as monitoring, law enforcement, habitat management, and human-wildlife conflict mitigation.
Networking: The IBCA will establish networks and linkages among the alliance members and partners, and create a platform for dialogue, consultation, and collaboration on big cat conservation issues and challenges.
Advocacy: The IBCA will raise awareness and mobilize support for big cat conservation among the policymakers, stakeholders, media, and public at the national, regional, and global levels.
Finance and resources support: The IBCA will leverage the financial and material resources from the alliance members and partners, and provide funding and incentives for big cat conservation projects and programs.
Research and technical support: The IBCA will conduct and support scientific research and innovation on big cat conservation, and provide technical guidance and advice to the alliance members and partners.
Education and awareness: The IBCA will develop and disseminate educational and awareness materials and programs on big cat conservation, and engage with the youth, schools, and communities.

What are the benefits and challenges of the International Big Cat Alliance?

The International Big Cat Alliance will have several benefits and challenges for the big cat conservation. Some of the benefits are:

• It will enhance the global cooperation and efforts to conserve the big cats and their habitats, which are facing multiple threats, such as poaching, habitat loss, climate change, and human-wildlife conflict.
• It will enable the dissemination and replication of the successful and innovative models and practices of big cat conservation, such as the Project Tiger in India, which has increased the tiger population by 33% in the last five years.
• It will create new opportunities and synergies for cooperation and collaboration among the alliance members and partners, and foster a holistic and integrated approach to big cat conservation.
• It will demonstrate the leadership and commitment of India and the big cat range countries to the global agenda of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

Some of the challenges are:

• It will require a high level of coordination and cooperation among the alliance members and partners, and a clear and effective governance and management structure for the IBCA.
• It will entail a huge financial and human resource requirement for the establishment and operation of the IBCA, and a mechanism for ensuring the accountability and transparency of the funds and resources.
• It will face the diversity and complexity of the big cat conservation issues and challenges, which vary across the regions, countries, and species, and require context-specific and adaptive solutions.
• It will have to balance the interests and expectations of the different stakeholders and groups involved in the big cat conservation, and address the potential conflicts and trade-offs.

Conclusion

The establishment of International Big Cat Alliance is a landmark decision that will boost the big cat conservation in the world. It will bring together the 97 big cat range countries and other partners under a common platform and vision for the conservation and protection of the big cats and their habitats. It will also showcase the achievements and contributions of India and the big cat range countries to the global community and the multilateral institutions. The International Big Cat Alliance is a global initiative for big cat conservation, and a step towards the vision of a harmonious coexistence of humans and wildlife.

UPSC Prelims MCQ

1. How many big cat range countries are part of the International Big Cat Alliance?
(A) 50
(B) 75
(C) 96
(D) 120
Answer: (C) 96

2. Which of the following is not one of the seven principal big cats covered by the International Big Cat Alliance?
(A) Tiger
(B) Lion
(C) Lynx
(D) Cheetah
Answer: (C) Lynx

3. Which of the following is an existing species-specific intergovernmental platform that the International Big Cat Alliance will support?
(A) Global Tiger Forum
(B) Global Wildlife Program
(C) Global Environment Facility
(D) Global Biodiversity Framework
Answer: (A) Global Tiger Forum

4. In which year was the International Big Cat Alliance launched by India?
(A) 2020
(B) 2021
(C) 2022
(D) 2023
Answer: (D) 2023

5. By how much percentage did the tiger population in India increase in the last five years, as per the information given?
(A) 25%
(B) 33%
(C) 40%
(D) 50%
Answer: (B) 33%