Social learning through collaboration and adaptive co-management in the Lahemaa National Park tourism environment in Estonia

Abstract

This article focuses on how social learning supports collaboration in an adaptive co-management (ACM) setting in a national park. A knowledge gap exists around how collaboration can be learned in a complex environment. Participatory action research was used. Collaborative learning is a process with four challenges: complexity of communication; the character of stakeholders; hindered local participation and decision making; and difficulties in facilitating social learning. Learning helps stakeholders to adapt and understand institutional arrangements, become acquainted with each other, communicate, gather collective social memory, hasten problem solving, and include stakeholders in the process.