IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC), Polar Bear Specialist Group

The material within these proceedings represents a summary for 2009–2016 on the state of knowledge and conservation concerns for polar bears throughout their range. The difficulties in studying a species that ranges widely, at low densities, and in one of the world’s most remote and environmentally challenging regions is evident in these proceedings. This report describes the current and future challenges and the conservation efforts needed to ensure the survival of polar bears.

Representatives of the Governments of Canada, Denmark, Norway, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America took part in the Conference. A representative of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) was also present. The Conference had its origins in a proposal made by representatives of the USSR at a meeting of the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group held in Morges, Switzerland, in February 1972.

These 15th Proceedings provide an overview of the ongoing research and management activities on polar bears in the circumpolar Arctic. Together with the previous 14 proceedings, they provide an historic record of the international effort in protecting, studying, and managing polar bears. The document addresses more recent concerns of threats arising as a consequence of increased human activities in both the Arctic and in regions far beyond the Arctic.

These proceedings provide an overview of the ongoing research and management activities on polar bears in the circumpolar arctic. Together with the previous 13 proceedings, they provide an historic record of international efforts in protecting, studying and managing polar bears.

These proceedings provide an overview of the ongoing research and management activities on polar bears in the circumpolar arctic. Together with the previous 12 proceedings, they provide an historic record of international efforts in protecting polar bears from over-harvest and document more recent concerns of threats arising from increased human activities in both the Arctic and in regions far beyond the realm of polar bears.

These 12th proceedings provide an overview of the ongoing research and management activities on polar bears on the circumpolar Arctic. Together with the previous proceedings, they provide an historic record of the international effort in protecting polar bears from over-harvest, and document more recent concerns of threats arising as a consequence of increased human activities in both the Arctic and in regions far beyond the realm of polar bears.

The eight species of bear live in more than 65 countries or autonomous regions in four continents, in a variety of habitats from tropical rainforests to arctic ice. Numerous human cultures around the world symbolically or physically try to incorporate the power of bears into their people.