Its focuses are scientific management of bears; research, distribution of information, and international conferences on bear biology, ecology and management.
The IBA hosts at least one conference in North America and at least one in Eurasia every three years.
The first was held during August 1968 in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada.
[1] The IBA partners with the Bear Specialist Group (BSG), of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and its Species Survival Commission, to publish the quarterly newsletter International Bear News.
The IBA also publishes peer-reviewed manuscripts in the scientific journal Ursus which has two issues per year.