Bear This status survey and conservation action plan describes the status and conservation needs of the eight bear species of the world. They are a diverse group of large mammals living in a variety of habitats from tropical rain forests to arctic ice.
Bears are the umbrella species in most of the ecosystems they inhabit.
The conservation of bears and their habitats will preserve the most biodiversity in these areas and focus management efforts on preserving watershed resources that also sustain human populations. Conservation efforts for bears in North America and Western Europe are much more intensive and coordinated than in Asia or Latin America where research and management are minimal or nonexistent. The exception to this in Asia is the intensive conservation of the giant panda in China. The greatest threats to bears exist in Asia, the Middle East, and parts of South America. All bear species have declined in numbers and distribution due to the impacts of human activities.