Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav launched the website and logo for the 1^st International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026, in New Delhi today. During the event, he also released a promotional film on the Summit. Several Heads of Mission of Big Cat Range Countries, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of External Affairs and IBCA attended the event. The IBCA, an inter-governmental international organisation headquartered in India, has been established for the conservation of seven big cats - Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Yadav described the occasion as an important milestone towards a landmark global gathering dedicated to the conservation of the world’s iconic big cats. He informed that India would host the first IBCA Summit on 1^st June 2026 in New Delhi, with participation expected from Heads of State/Government of Member and Observer countries. The Summit, guided by the theme ‘Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem’, would bring together over 400 conservationists, policymakers, scientists, multilateral agencies, financial institutions, corporate leaders and community representatives from across the globe.

Highlighting India’s journey in big cat conservation, the Minister noted that it has been marked by commitment, innovation, scientific management, institutional collaboration and community participation. Referring to the success of Project Tiger and initiatives for lion, leopard, snow leopard and cheetah conservation, he stated that India has demonstrated that conservation and development can go hand in hand, strengthening ecosystems, improving livelihoods, resilience, and mitigating climate challenges.

Shri Yadav stated that India’s experience and a deep sense of global responsibility inspired the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to launch the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) in 2023. He described IBCA as a first-of-its-kind platform bringing together countries home to the seven big cats, reflecting India’s belief that conservation challenges must be addressed collectively through cooperation, knowledge sharing and mutual support.

The Minister emphasized that the upcoming Summit will be a defining moment in global conservation diplomacy, bringing together world leaders, experts and partners to deliberate on the future of big cat conservation. He underlined that the Summit will strengthen international partnerships, promote South-South cooperation, inspire collective action among big cat range countries and align conservation efforts with global biodiversity and climate goals. For the first time, world leaders will convene exclusively to deliberate on big cat conservation across continents, he added.

Shri Yadav informed that a key outcome of the Summit would be the adoption of the first-ever global declaration on big cat conservation, titled the ‘Delhi Declaration’, which will articulate shared priorities, strengthen transboundary cooperation and promote a landscape-based approach for conserving big cats and their habitats.

The Summit will be followed by technical sessions on 1^st and 2^nd June 2026, with participation from senior government officials, conservation practitioners, experts and partner organisations from 95 big cat range countries. A curated exhibition will also be organised during the Summit in collaboration with leading institutions and partners, showcasing tribal art, paintings on big cats, immersive photographs, films, virtual reality experiences and India’s best practices and achievements in big cat and biodiversity conservation.

On the launch of the IBCA Summit Website, the Minister said it would function as a dedicated global platform for outreach, engagement and information sharing It would also host the official IBCA Summit 2026 logo film that captures the Summit’s vision, conservation narrative and global relevance, thereby enhancing awareness, visibility and public engagement. The website will serve as the official digital identity of the Summit, ensuring consistency, authenticity and clarity in all communications.

Referring to the IBCA Summit Logo, Shri Yadav said that it captures the spirit of the initiative. He informed that the logo reflects harmony, balance and interconnected ecosystems. The logo features the seven big cat species at its core, symbolising unity and shared responsibility and is encircled by a lotus-inspired design representing the five elements of nature.

Concluding his address, the Minister urged all present to extend full support in ensuring participation at the highest level from their respective countries, emphasizing that leadership and engagement would be critical in making the Summit a global success. He also called upon big cat range countries not yet part of IBCA to join the Alliance to build a strong, inclusive and action-oriented platform for securing the future of these species.

Dignitaries on the dais included Shri Tanmay Kumar, Secretary, MoEFCC; Shri Sibi George, Secretary (West), MEA; Shri Sushil Kumar Awasthi, Director General (Forests) and Special Secretary, MoEFCC; and Shri S.P. Yadav, Director General, IBCA.

*****

VM/GS

(Release ID: 2258491) Visitor Counter : 616