The world's bears certainly need strong advocates such as the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA). The IBA is a volunteer, not-for-profit "organization open to professional biologists, wildlife managers and others dedicated to the conservation of all species of bears." The IBA's membership includes hundreds of people in more than 20 countries who support "the scientific management of bears through research and distribution of information." The IBA website offers links to information about, and abstracts from, URSUS, the primary scientific publication of the IBA. The site also links to websites for several upcoming conferences as well as to information about IBA membership, grants, and publication orders. In addition, the site contains an interesting collection of documents, including the U.S. and Russia Polar Bear Treaty; a June 2004 letter from IBA President Harry V. Reynolds to the Mongolian Minister of Nature and Environment regarding the Gobi Bear Recovery Plan, and a brief summary paper (from February 1989) regarding the conservation and status of bears worldwide. Brief descriptions for all eight bear species are included as well.