The International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA), also known as the International Bear Association, is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization open to professional biologists, wildlife managers and others dedicated to the conservation of the world’s eight bear species.
With over 550 members from some 50 countries, the organization supports the scientific management of bears through research and distribution of information and 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 IBA's scientific journal. Prior to forming the journal, early proceedings were published under "Bears - Their Biology and management" then later "International Conference on Bear Research and Management".
The IBA has an integral relationship with the Bear Specialist Group (BSG), of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and it's Species Survival Commission. The two organizations publish the quarterly newsletter, International Bear News. Ursus is the scientific journal published by the organization. Ranking members of the organization (e.g., council members, etc.) and affiliates, including representatives from the Polar Bear Specialist group (WCN), and BSG members include some of the foremost experts on bears in the world.
The IUCN lists six of the eight bear species as vulnerable or endangered, and even "least concern" species such as the brown bear are at risk of extirpation in certain countries.
The IBA hosts conferences at least twice every three years. For updated information on the next conference, follow the link below to IBA Conferences and Workshops. The general conference schedule is one in North America every 3 years and one in Eurasia every three years, but additional conferences may be planned if requested and hosts volunteer. The 2011 conference will be held in Ottawa, Canada.
Bear conservation; Bear Specialist Group; International Association for Bear Research and Management; Bear Biology