‘Delhi Declaration’: Global Conservation Pact to be Unveiled at IBCA Summit
NEW DELHI – In a historic step toward safeguarding the world’s most iconic predators, the inaugural International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit is set to convene in the national capital from June 1 to 3, 2026. The summit’s centerpiece will be the adoption of the ‘Delhi Declaration’, a first-of-its-kind global framework for big cat conservation.
The declaration aims to synchronize conservation efforts across 95 participating nations, emphasizing transboundary cooperation and a “landscape-based” approach to protecting habitats.
The Power of 95: A Global Coalition
The IBCA, an initiative spearheaded and piloted by India, targets the protection of the seven “big cats”: lions, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, and pumas.
- Member Base: Currently includes 24 member countries and three observer countries, with “range countries” (those hosting at least one big cat species) making up the bulk of the 95 invited nations.
- Leadership: Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav unveiled the summit’s logo and website on Wednesday, confirming that heads of state and government from various member nations are expected to attend.
- Theme: ‘Save big cats, save humanity, save ecosystem’.
Pillars of the Delhi Declaration
The summit is expected to move beyond rhetoric to actionable mandates. Key focus areas include:
| Priority Area | Objective |
| Habitat Restoration | Improving the quality of forests and prey bases across international borders. |
| Transboundary Cooperation | Managing wildlife corridors that cross national boundaries to ensure safe animal migration. |
| Innovation & Research | Sharing technological tools (like AI-based tracking) and scientific data on big cat populations. |
| Financial Synergy | Bringing together multilateral agencies and corporate leaders to fund long-term conservation projects. |
India’s Leadership in Conservation
The IBCA was officially launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023, marking a shift in India’s role from a regional leader in tiger conservation to a global architect for feline protection.
“Conservation challenges must be addressed collectively through cooperation, knowledge sharing, and mutual support,” Minister Yadav stated, highlighting that the alliance reflects India’s civilizational ethos of living in harmony with nature.
The summit will see a massive gathering of over 400 delegates, including scientists, financial institutions, and community representatives. By involving indigenous communities who live alongside these predators, the IBCA seeks to ensure that conservation is inclusive and sustainable.
As the world looks toward New Delhi this June, the ‘Delhi Declaration’ stands to become the definitive roadmap for preventing the extinction of these apex predators and maintaining the ecological balance of the planet.