International Big Cat Alliance
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A backgrounder
By STORM AI, June 2025
Summary
The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) is a global conservation initiative established to address the pressing threats faced by seven major big cat species: Tigers, Lions, Leopards, Snow Leopards, Cheetahs, Jaguars, and Pumas. Officially launched on April 9, 2023, by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger, the IBCA seeks to foster international cooperation in combating challenges such as habitat loss, poaching, human-wildlife conflict, and climate change that jeopardize these apex predators' survival.
The alliance emerged from a recognition of the urgent need for a coordinated global effort, with its foundation laid through earlier initiatives like the International Tiger Coalition and the backing of 39 major conservation organizations.
The necessity for the IBCA stems from alarming statistics regarding big cat populations, which have suffered drastic declines due to human activities and environmental changes. Tigers alone have lost approximately 95% of their historical range, significantly impacting their habitats and leading to increased risks of poaching and conflicts with humans.
By promoting habitat protection, preventing illegal wildlife trade, and mobilizing resources for conservation efforts, the IBCA aims to create a unified global response to these challenges, ultimately preserving not only big cats but also the ecosystems they inhabit.
As of September 2024, the IBCA comprises 25 member countries, including India, Nigeria, and Egypt, highlighting a growing international commitment to big cat conservation.
The alliance operates under a governance structure that includes a General Assembly and an elected Council, allowing for collaborative decision-making and resource sharing among its members.
Furthermore, the Indian government has pledged significant financial support, amounting to approximately US$ 18 million over five years, emphasizing the importance of resource mobilization for achieving the IBCA's ambitious conservation objectives.
In addition to its collaborative efforts, the IBCA aligns its initiatives with existing wildlife protection treaties such as CITES and CMS, enhancing global cooperation and reinforcing the collective action needed to safeguard big cat populations.
The alliance's holistic approach not only aims to address immediate threats but also promotes sustainable practices that involve local communities, thereby ensuring long-term ecological resilience and biodiversity conservation.
History
The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was officially launched on April 9, 2023, by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger.
The formation of the IBCA was influenced by a growing recognition of the need for a coordinated global effort to combat threats faced by big cats, which include habitat loss, poaching, and climate change.
The concept for the alliance originated in July 2019, when Modi proposed the idea of a global coalition dedicated to big cat conservation, highlighting the urgent need for collaboration among nations.
In the lead-up to its establishment, several significant steps were taken. In 2008, the CITES Standing Committee highlighted the necessity of implementing measures to restrict the breeding of tigers for commercial purposes, emphasizing that such efforts were critical to conserving wild populations.
By 2011, major conservation organizations, including Big Cat Rescue, collaborated to form the International Tiger Coalition (ITC) aimed at saving tigers in their natural habitats.
This coalition set the stage for the broader IBCA, which was further solidified by the endorsement of 39 major conservation groups committed to this goal.
As part of its framework, the IBCA is designed to foster international cooperation and enhance the dissemination of effective conservation practices. This approach is deemed essential for large-scale rewilding efforts, particularly concerning larger carnivores.
The organization is governed by a General Assembly and an elected Council, with operational oversight provided by a secretariat.
India plays a crucial role in the IBCA, as it is home to five of the seven big cat species and contains 70% of the world's tiger population.
The Indian government has pledged ₹150 crore from 2023 to 2028 to support the alliance's initial setup and global coordination efforts.
Scope
The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) is a global coalition aimed at the conservation of seven major big cat species: the Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma. Its scope encompasses various aspects of big cat conservation, from habitat protection to combating illegal wildlife trade, and is designed to foster collaboration among countries that share a common interest in the survival of these apex predators.
Objectives and Initiatives
The IBCA seeks to address multiple objectives through its initiatives, which include preventing illegal wildlife trade, promoting the conservation of natural habitats, and mobilizing financial and technical resources for conservation efforts.
Ensuring funding for big cat conservation projects globally and acting as a common funding pool for under-resourced nations.
Facilitating the sharing of best practices related to habitat management, anti-poaching strategies, and ecological restoration among member countries.
Strengthening existing agreements and initiatives by collaborating with global agencies such as CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) and CMS (Convention on Migratory Species).
Collaborative Framework
The framework of the IBCA emphasizes scientific research, policy advocacy, and capacity building, allowing member countries to share their experiences and mobilize resources effectively.
This collaborative approach aims to enhance the implementation of big cat conservation strategies, leading to cost reductions and improved outcomes.
Governance Structure
The governance of the IBCA is modeled after other international alliances, featuring an Assembly of Members, a Standing Committee, and a Secretariat. The Director-General, appointed by India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, oversees the Secretariat, which is responsible for the implementation of the alliance's objectives and initiatives.
The IBCA aims to operate from its proposed headquarters in India, supported by initial funding and voluntary contributions.
Global Role and Membership
As of September 2024, twenty-five countries have consented to be members of the IBCA, including Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, and Kenya.
The alliance also emphasizes the importance of addressing common threats faced by big cat populations, such as habitat loss, poaching, and climate change, thus enabling a unified response to these challenges.
Members
The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) has seen a growing membership since its inception, with membership open to all United Nations member states. As of now, a total of 27 countries have expressed their intention to join IBCA, indicating a strong global commitment to big cat conservation efforts.
The formalized membership currently includes five nations: India, Nicaragua, Eswatini, Liberia, and Somalia, all of which have signed and ratified the Framework Agreement to become official members of the Alliance.
Membership entails not only participation in collaborative initiatives but also contributions to the financial and technical support mechanisms established by the IBCA. For instance, the Government of India has committed approximately US$ 18 million to support the IBCA's initiatives over a five-year period from 2023 to 2028.
This financial backing underscores the importance of resource mobilization from member states to achieve the Alliance's conservation objectives. The governance structure of the IBCA is designed to facilitate active participation from its members. A general assembly, comprising all member countries, plays a crucial role in decision-making, while a council, elected by the assembly, guides administrative and operational functions.
The Assembly also evaluates the implementation of various programs and activities, ensuring that the objectives of the IBCA are met effectively.
Necessity
The necessity for the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) arises from the myriad threats facing big cat populations globally, including habitat loss, poaching, human-wildlife conflict, and climate change. Big cats, such as tigers and lions, have experienced significant declines, with tigers losing approximately 95% of their historical range due to human activities like agriculture and urban development, which severely impact their habitats.
As these majestic predators are pushed into smaller and more fragmented environments, they encounter increased challenges in finding food and establishing territories, leading to heightened risks of poaching and human-wildlife conflicts.
Moreover, climate change compounds these issues, as rising sea levels and changing weather patterns threaten the ecosystems that big cats depend on. For example, the Sundarbans habitat could be drastically affected, risking the survival of its tiger population.
The urgency of the situation is further underscored by the illegal wildlife trade, where poaching for fur, bones, and other body parts remains a lucrative black market, exacerbating the plight of these species.
The IBCA aims to address these challenges through coordinated global actions that support habitat preservation, anti-poaching measures, and restoration of degraded ecosystems.
By fostering collaboration among nations and conservation organizations, the alliance seeks to implement effective strategies that mitigate the pressures on big cat populations and promote biodiversity conservation.
In this context, the IBCA not only serves to protect big cats but also plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems and preserving the rich biodiversity that sustains life on Earth.
Initiatives
Background and Launch
The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was officially launched on April 9, 2023, by India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger. The initiative was conceived in 2019 and aims to address the pressing challenges faced by seven major big cat species: Tigers, Lions, Leopards, Snow Leopards, Cheetahs, Jaguars, and Pumas.
The IBCA seeks to enhance cooperation among countries that share habitats for these species, facilitating the exchange of best practices in conservation.
Objectives
The IBCA is structured around several key objectives:
Combating Illegal Wildlife Trade: It aims to prevent the illegal wildlife trade involving the seven big cat species.
Habitat Conservation: The initiative promotes the conservation of natural habitats critical for these species' survival.
Resource Mobilization: It seeks to mobilize financial and technical resources to support conservation efforts.
Climate Change Mitigation: The alliance will work towards mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on big cat habitats.
Policy Advocacy: The IBCA advocates for policy initiatives that align biodiversity conservation efforts with local needs, contributing to the attainment of the United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goals.
Collaborative Framework
The IBCA functions as a multi-country, multi-agency coalition, uniting government entities, non-governmental organizations, scientific research institutions, and private sector partners.
This collaborative framework is designed to share successful conservation practices and mobilize resources effectively. The initiative encompasses scientific research, capacity building, and collaborative partnerships aimed at achieving conservation goals at local, national, and international levels.
Financial and Technical Support
A critical aspect of the IBCA is its commitment to providing financial and technical assistance to under-resourced nations. The alliance acts as a common funding pool for conservation projects worldwide and offers expertise in habitat management and anti-poaching strategies.
Additionally, the Indian government has pledged approximately US$ 18 million over five years to create a corpus for the IBCA, supporting infrastructure and recurring expenditures.
Engagement with Existing Agreements
The IBCA aligns its efforts with established wildlife protection treaties, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), thereby strengthening existing conservation initiatives while enhancing global cooperation.
This alignment allows for a more coordinated approach to addressing the challenges faced by big cats.
Local Community Involvement
An integral part of the IBCA's strategy is the Eco-Development Programme, which aims to engage local communities in conservation efforts. This program provides alternative livelihood opportunities and promotes sustainable resource use practices, thereby reducing human-wildlife conflict and fostering community participation in conservation.
Achievements
The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) has made significant strides in the field of wildlife conservation since its inception. The alliance aims to enhance global efforts to protect big cat species, their habitats, and promote sustainable ecosystems.
Establishment of a Treaty-Based Organization
One of the major achievements of the IBCA has been its transformation into a treaty-based intergovernmental organization. This transition has established dedicated governing bodies, administrative frameworks, and a functional secretariat, enabling coordinated global actions to combat threats such as habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.
By February 2025, the IBCA had garnered membership from 27 countries, including significant contributions from India, which plays a pivotal role in the operational framework as the depository nation.
Global Conservation Impact
The IBCA's global importance is underscored by its focus on flagship species like the tiger, which represents over 70% of the world’s wild tiger population residing in India.
The initiative has facilitated collaboration among stakeholders and has led to the successful implementation of programs aimed at reversing tiger population declines. For example, India's Project Tiger, established in 1973, has expanded to cover multiple reserves and significantly bolstered tiger conservation efforts.
Financial and Technical Support
The alliance has also initiated projects focused on habitat preservation, anti-poaching measures, and restoration of degraded ecosystems. By acting as a common funding pool for conservation projects, the IBCA provides technical know-how and scientific research assistance to under-resourced nations.
This support enhances the capacity of various countries to implement effective conservation strategies.
Strengthening Existing Initiatives
The IBCA works in conjunction with existing agreements and initiatives, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), to reinforce global wildlife protection treaties. By sharing best practices in habitat management and ecological restoration, the IBCA has contributed to a collective effort to mitigate the impacts of climate change and support biodiversity resilience.
Addressing Human-Wildlife Conflict
Recognizing the challenges posed by human-wildlife conflict due to habitat fragmentation, the IBCA has addressed issues of coexistence by promoting strategies that help mitigate the impacts on both wildlife and local communities. This holistic approach ensures that conservation efforts are sustainable and inclusive, ultimately benefiting ecosystems and local livelihoods.
Future Directions
Collaborative Efforts and Capacity Building
The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) aims to enhance cooperation among member countries, promoting the sharing of knowledge and resources to effectively address the challenges faced by big cat populations. By facilitating knowledge exchange on threats and solutions, the alliance fosters collaborative partnerships that are essential for successful conservation outcomes.
Furthermore, the IBCA emphasizes the importance of building the capacity of stakeholders involved in big cat conservation, ensuring that local communities are integrated into conservation strategies for sustainable coexistence.
Policy Advocacy and Financial Mobilization
A critical focus of the IBCA is to advocate for policy initiatives that align biodiversity conservation efforts with local needs while contributing to the United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goals.
The alliance seeks to mobilize financial and technical resources to support the implementation of conservation and protection efforts, addressing current gaps in funding and innovative technologies necessary for effective big cat management.
By developing sustainable financing arrangements, the IBCA aims to ensure long-term support for big cat conservation programs in resource-limited countries.
Addressing Climate Change
The IBCA recognizes the adverse effects of climate change on big cat habitats and populations. As part of its strategic objectives, the alliance is committed to working towards mitigating these impacts through targeted conservation actions that protect both big cats and their ecosystems.
This comprehensive approach not only focuses on the immediate threats faced by big cats but also considers broader environmental challenges, promoting a holistic view of wildlife conservation.
Innovation and Technology in Conservation
Utilizing advancements in technology, such as mobile-based monitoring systems like M-STrIPES, is essential for enhancing the efficiency of conservation efforts.
The IBCA aims to leverage innovative and novel ecological initiatives, ensuring that member countries can adopt best practices and technologies that have proven successful in various contexts.
By creating a common pool of resources, the alliance encourages the sharing of scientific research and practical methodologies, enabling effective implementation of conservation measures across different regions.
