IBA aims to understand the world’s 8 bear species through scientific research and collaboration with communities, conservationists, managers, and students across the globe.
The International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) is a non-profit tax-exempt organization open to professional biologists, wildlife managers and others dedicated to the conservation of all bear species. The organization has 550+ members from over 60 countries. It supports the scientific management of bears through research and distribution of information. The IBA sponsors international conferences on all aspects of bear biology, ecology and management. Many of the conference papers are published as peer-reviewed scientific papers in the journal Ursus. The eight bear species of the world pose significant research, conservation, and management challenges to governments, local authorities,
wildlife biologists, conservationists, land managers, park personnel, tribal councils, indigenous communities, and private land owners. Encroaching civilization, through land-use conflicts and resource utilization by human beings, has resulted in the decline or disappearance of bear habitat and bear populations in portions of their ranges. Continued viability of populations, and the possible restoration of bears in certain areas, will be largely contingent upon a cooperative approach towards research, management, conservation, land use, and education, and will increase in cost as land values escalate. The IBA, an association primarily of professional biologists with an interest in bears, recognizes these difficult bear research, conservation and management challenges.
News & Events
Travel Grant Application Period is Closed and Grants Have Been Awarded
Read MoreRecipient of the 2-Year “Innovation in Community -Based Conservation for Bear” (R&C) Grant for 2018-2019 has been announced. Congratulations to Russ van Horn and his team of investigators, Fanny Cornejo, Carlos Jimenez, Nicholas Pilfold, and Megan Owen at San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research.
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Bear conservation fund
Do you want to help support research that provides scientific information for protecting the world’s 8 bear species? Whether you want to donate $5.00 or $5,000 dollars, any amount helps! Learn more about how to protect bears through our donation program. All BCF funds go directly to research projects.
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Bear Specialist Group
The Bear Specialist Group (BSG) is one of more than 140 Specialist Groups, Red List Authorities, and Task Forces established by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and The Species Survival Commission (SCC). In the early days, IBA was approached by the IUCN to help with the founding of a Bear Specialist Group (BSG). As the relationship evolved, BSG became a separate unit and now appoints its own members. However, IBA and BSG maintain a close working relationship, prepare a joint newsletter, and IBA provides many benefits to the BSG. These benefits include complimentary IBA membership, access to IBA grants, funds and support for the BSG website, a dedicated BSG session and meetings at IBA conferences, and funds to support BSG operations. Today, members of the BSG are appointed by the BSG co-chairs.
Education & Resources
The members of IBA have a rich and diverse background in all areas of bear ecology. Whether you are looking for information about basic bear biology/ecology, conservation, management, research, policy, or bear welfare, IBA is your resource providing access to bear experts around the world.
What is the impact of an IBA Grant?
