Kaisa Linno

Kaisa Linno, MSc, is a community-driven practitioner and researcher based in Lahemaa National Park, where she has lived and worked for over 15 years. Her work focuses on strengthening local communities, fostering collaboration, and exploring how tourism can support rural life in protected areas. Deeply engaged in Lahemaa’s community life, Kaisa has been actively involved in local initiatives at the community center and has played a key role in bringing together non-governmental organizations to build cooperation and enhance everyday life in the region. Her hands-on experience has shaped a strong commitment to community-led development and social cohesion. Recognizing the potential of tourism as a tool for empowering local communities, she pursued further studies in nature-based tourism. This led to the establishment of the Lahemaa Tourism Association – Visit Lahemaa, a community-driven destination management organization that enables local people to actively participate in and benefit from tourism. Alongside her community work, Kaisa collaborates with the Estonian University of Life Sciences as a junior researcher, contributing to community innovation projects that explore multilevel cooperation and governance. She is currently pursuing doctoral studies, focusing on how collaboration between communities, organizations, and institutions can support sustainable tourism and rural development in protected areas.