International Bear Association
Encyclopedia
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 Specialist Group
;
International Association for Bear Research and Management;
Bear Biology
Conservation movement
The conservation movement, also known as nature conservation, is a political, environmental and a social movement that seeks to protect natural resources including animal, fungus and plant species as well as their habitat for the future....
of the world’s eight bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
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
Bear Specialist Group
The Bear Specialist Group is the bear taxon expert focal group of the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature...
(BSG), of the World Conservation Union
World Conservation Union
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources is an international organization dedicated to finding "pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges." The organization publishes the IUCN Red List, compiling information from a network of...
(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
World Conservation Union
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources is an international organization dedicated to finding "pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges." The organization publishes the IUCN Red List, compiling information from a network of...
lists six of the eight bear species as vulnerable
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
or endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
, and even "least concern
Least Concern
Least Concern is an IUCN category assigned to extant taxon or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, Near Threatened, or Conservation Dependent...
" species such as the brown bear
Brown Bear
The brown bear is a large bear distributed across much of northern Eurasia and North America. It can weigh from and its largest subspecies, the Kodiak Bear, rivals the polar bear as the largest member of the bear family and as the largest land-based predator.There are several recognized...
are at risk of extirpation
Local extinction
Local extinction, also known as extirpation, is the condition of a species which ceases to exist in the chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere...
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.
See also
Bear conservationBear conservation
Bear conservation refers to the management of bears and their habitat with a view to preventing their extinction.Bears face serious threats on many fronts, most of which are due to human activity...
;
Bear Specialist Group
Bear Specialist Group
The Bear Specialist Group is the bear taxon expert focal group of the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature...
;
International Association for Bear Research and Management;
Bear Biology