The BSG Chair is appointed by the Chair of the Species Survival Commission of the IUCN.  Members of the BSG are appointed by the BSG chairs in consultation with Expert Team co-chairs.  Members are selected based on their expertise, conservation-related activities, and representation within the range countries.  Because the level of expertise on bears varies enormously among countries, we do not have a strict set of criteria for membership, but rather seek the best people in all bear range countries.  Members serve a 4-year term, coincident with the term of the elected SSC Chair, and can be reappointed if they remain active. 

Click here for Criteria for BSG Membership (pdf).

To apply for membership, contact BSG Chair or an appropriate Expert Team Chair for expertise by Species or Topic.

Presently we have ~250 members in 11 Expert Teams:

Click here for BSG membership file sorted by country representation within Expert Teams (pdf)

Increasing BSG membership through the years. Orange bars mark IUCN quadrenniums.

Country representation of where BSG members work or have worked in some capacity related to bears.People working in multiple countries contribute to the dot in each. The position of the dot within the country is not reflective of where work is conducted.