Authors: Linno, Kaisa; Pilving, Tarmo;Suškevičs, Monika;

Adaptive co-management (ACM) is an approach to govern complex social-ecological systems, utilising participatory decision-making, social learning, sustainable resource use and development of adaptive capacity for social-ecological resilience. It has been applied in multiple resource management contexts across the world, incl. conservation management. However, it is still not known how collaboration can be learned in the ACM setting and how the learning process should be facilitated. This study is set in the post-communist national park with recent turbulent past and bases on a project that was carried out in Lahemaa in Estonia between 2019-2021 that created a community innovation lab, attended by 80 local stakeholders. The methodology of Lahemaa case study included qualitative methods of seven semi-structured interviews and two focus groups. In conclusion, collaborative learning occurs in the problem and interest communication through different governance levels and makes stakeholders to understand the elements of individual and collective gain. It helps them to choose collaboration partners, the structure, limitations and boundaries in which they can operate and position themselves in the local social, managerial and entrepreneurial context. Fostering collaborative learning needs outside facilitation and takes time to adapt in public sector much more than in private sector.