INTERNATIONAL
BIG CAT ALLIANCE - ENVIRONMENT
News: India to launch global alliance for
big cats, invest $100mn
What's
in the 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).
International
Big Cat Alliance (IBCA):
Aim:
●
The proposed International Big Cat
Alliance (IBCA) will work towards the protection and conservation of the seven major big cats — tiger, lion,
leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and cheetah.
Members:
●
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.
Governance
Structure:
●
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.
Finance:
●
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.
Features:
●
Its major activities will include “advocacy,
partnership, knowledge e-portal, capacity building, eco-tourism, partnerships
between expert groups and finance tapping”.