IUCN:  The Bear Specialist Group (BSG) is one of ~130 taxon-specific Specialist Groups within the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The IUCN, created in 1948, is the world’s largest and most diverse science-based environmental network, composed of most of the world’s governments, and many conservation-oriented scientists and environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs).  The Species Survival Commission consists of more than 8,000 volunteer experts on species conservation, grouped mainly by taxon into Specialist Groups.  Polar bears are included in their own Specialist Group.

TBBCA: The Taiwan Black Bear Conservation Association is the world's first and only non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of  Asiatic black bears in Taiwan, where this species is endangered, due to excessive poaching. The TBBCA was founded in 2010 by Dr. Mei-hsiu Hwang, with the mission of mobilizing and integrating conservation resources, actively promoting the conservation and research of Taiwan black bears, and raising people's awareness and concern for this species. At the same time, through international exchanges and cooperation, the TBBCA works together with bear researchers and conservationists to improve the status of bears across Asia. The TBBCA is a vital partner with the BSG, sponsoring various workshops and supporting this website.

IBA:  The BSG has a close relationship with the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA), which is a society mainly for professional bear biologists. Membership of BSG and IBA strongly overlap. Both organizations were founded essentially together, at the same meeting, by the same people. We publish a joint newsletter with IBA (International Bear News) and participate in IBA conferences. On occasion, the BSG and IBA get together to write a joint statement about a pressing issue of concern for bears.