Research and Conservation Grants

Research and Conservation Grants

Organization: International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA)

Description: IBA's Research and Conservation (R&C) Grants fuel groundbreaking projects that directly impact bear populations and their habitats. These grants support science-based research, conservation, and education projects on any of the world's eight bear species, often focusing on critical conservation issues and engaging local communities.

Focus Areas

• Tracking and monitoring bear movements and populations
• Climate change impacts on bear species (e.g., polar bear denning sites)
• Genetic research on fragmented populations
• Habitat restoration and protection
• Human-wildlife conflict mitigation
• Community-led conservation initiatives
• Species-specific action plans and management strategies
• Capacity building for protected area staff

Geographic Scope

• Global - supports projects on all eight bear species worldwide
• Recent projects include work in India, China, Pakistan, Peru, Ecuador, and Southeast Asia

Recent Recipients (2025-26 cycle)

• Akshar (India): Sloth bear conflict mitigation in human-dominated landscapes
• Anna Yue Yu (China): Tibetan brown bear coexistence and community perspectives
• Muhammad Naeem Awan (Pakistan): Asiatic black bear conservation through ranger training
• Nisha Prajapati (India): Sloth bear habitat restoration in Gujarat
• Roxana Rojas Vera Pinto (Peru): Standardized protocol for Andean bear interactions
• Sarthak Chaudhary (India): Sloth bear denning ecology in the Aravalli range

Application Process

• Applications accepted on rolling basis (annual cycle)
• Must include detailed project proposal, budget, timeline, and methodology

Contact

• Website: bearbiology.org
• Grants page: https://www.bearbiology.org/grants/research-and-conservation-grants/