3 min readUpdated: Nov 19, 2025 03:30 AM IST
Belem, Brazil, November 18: Calling for renewed global cooperation to protect big cat species and their habitats as part of integrated climate and biodiversity action, India’s Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Monday announced India’s decision to host a ‘Global Big Cats Summit’ in New Delhi next year.
Speaking at a high-level ministerial segment at COP30 conference focused on International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA), Yadav spoke about India’s successes in the conservation and protection of big cat populations. India is the home to several big cats including Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Lion, Indian Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Clouded Leopard.
“India has been able to double its tiger population ahead of the target timeline and our Asiatic lion population continues to grow well. We (India) have built one of the world’s most comprehensive wildlife databases through nationwide population assessments of tigers, lions, leopards and snow leopards, while expanding protected areas, securing corridors, and partnering with local communities for conservation and eco-based livelihoods,” he said, while thanking Brazil, the hosts of COP30, for organising a special meeting on IBCA.
Delivered India’s National Statement at the high-level segment at COP30 in Belem, Brazil today.
Underlined that unsustainable growth and development have placed Mother Earth in deep stress. Led by PM Shri @narendramodi ji, India has demonstrated successfully that development and… pic.twitter.com/DsR4N2G7y9
— Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) November 17, 2025
He said 17 countries were already formally associated with IBCA, with over 30 more expressing willingness to join. The Minister emphasised that India’s ambition is to bring all big cat range countries, and all nations valuing biodiversity and climate security, into the Alliance.
He said India linked big cat conservation directly with climate mitigation, adaptation and ecosystem resilience.
“Where big cats thrive, forests are healthier, grasslands regenerate, water systems function, and carbon is stored efficiently in living landscapes,” he said, highlighting the fact that declines in big cat populations lead to destabilized ecosystems, weakened resilience to climate change, and loss of natural carbon sinks.
“What we often call ‘wildlife conservation’ is, in fact, climate action in its most natural form,” Yadav said.
He said that conserving big cat landscapes directly strengthened carbon sequestration, watershed protection, disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and sustainable livelihoods.
