Bhopal, May 21 (AHN) The Madhya Pradesh government said on Thursday that the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Pre-Summit event will be inaugurated in Bhopal on Friday on the occasion of International Biodiversity Day 2026.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav along with Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav will chair the programme.

The pre-summit is scheduled at the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) Auditorium in Bhopal.

Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh and Madhya Pradesh Forest and Environment Minister Dilip Ahirwar will be present as guests of honour.

The programme is being jointly organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, National Biodiversity Authority, Madhya Pradesh government, International Big Cat Alliance, and IIFM.

According to the official statement, Chief Minister Yadav and Union Minister Bhupender Yadav will flag off a fleet comprising 20 motorcycles and one rescue truck.

The event will feature deliberations on various dimensions of biodiversity conservation, wildlife enrichment, and specifically the conservation of big cats.

The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department will also present a special presentation on the Cheetah Reintroduction Project in India.

During the event, several publications and digital initiatives related to biodiversity and conservation will be released and unveiled.

These include commemorative postage stamps, 'India's Biodiversity Report 2026', India's first national report on the Nagoya Protocol, and the ABS (Access and Benefit Sharing) end-to-end web portal.

Films focusing on Access and Benefit Sharing, the Amarkantak Biodiversity Heritage Site, and the conservation of sacred groves in Madhya Pradesh will also be screened.

The state government said the event is expected to enhance public awareness regarding biodiversity conservation, ecological balance, and wildlife protection.

It will also reaffirm India's commitment to global conservation efforts, particularly for big cats.

The IBCA was launched by India to strengthen international cooperation for the conservation of seven big cats -- tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma.