Conclusions: The Collaborative and Minnesota forests
After researching the Manitou Forest Collaborative I feel hopeful I will hear more positive things about their accomplishments in the future. The Collaborative is in the beginning stages of landscape scale forest management. They have made meaningful connections across ownership boundaries and have tackled the gap between ecology and the economy. They have had much success in discussing their different perspectives, objectives, and values. Ongoing research is being done to aid their management decisions.

In the future the Collaborative will work to clarify distinct goals, and focus on detailing specific outlines for action, and for monitoring progress in the area. They will continue to improve leadership, structure, and participation, and continually update active member lists. The Collaborative will also work to improve documentation of their activities and decisions.
Through this project I have been able to learn more about an 'on-the-ground' collaborative management process that is helping to shape a portion of forest in Minnesota. It is testament to the fact of how complex a science forestry is. It has also been exciting to learn about new management developments in the area.

 

 

The Manitou landscape is a good area for collaborative management to be implemented in. The boundaries of its biological diversity areas cross between many different ownerships. The area is home to some of Minnesota's most precious old-growth forest reserves, and provides critical habitats for many species. The timber and natural resources of the landscape are a necessity for economic growth and prosperity of the local communities. The recreation the area provides is of high value to both locals and visitors.

While not all forested areas of Minnesota have all of these characteristics, they may still be helped and better managed by this type of collaborative effort. The Manitou Collaborative can serve as an example, and thus help all of Minnesota's forest, not only the Manitou landscape.