In news– India has proposed to launch a mega global alliance under its leadership to protect big cats and assured support over five years with guaranteed funding of $100 million (over Rs 800 crore).
About IBCA-
- Proposed alliance will work towards the protection and conservation of the seven major big cats — tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and cheetah.
- Its purpose is to provide a platform for dissemination of information on benchmarked practices, capacity building, resources repository, research and development, awareness creation etc.
- Its major activities will include advocacy, partnership, knowledge e-portal, capacity building, eco-tourism, partnerships between expert groups and finance tapping.
- The IBCA’s governance structure will comprise a General Assembly consisting of all member countries, a council of at least seven but not more than 15 member countries elected by the General Assembly for a term of 5 years, and a Secretariat.
- Upon the recommendation of the Council, the General Assembly will appoint the IBCA Secretary General for a specific term.
- After the first five years, which will be supported by India’s total grant assistance of $100 million, the IBCA is expected to sustain itself through membership fees, and contributions from bilateral and multilateral institutions and the private sector.
- Membership to the alliance will be open to 97 range countries, which contain the natural habitat of these big cats, as well as other interested nations, international organisations, etc.
- The alliance is inspired by the arrival of cheetahs in 2022 from Namibia.
