About the GLNF CESU

Map of the GLNF CESU Region

The Great Lakes Northern Forest (GLNF) Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) is a regional network of faculty, specialists, managers, and staff from leading academic institutions, conservation organizations, and federal agencies. The GLNF has more than a dozen federal partners and 40+ nonfederal partners. All units transcend political and institutional boundaries to improve the scientific base for managing public lands. They provide resource managers with high quality scientific research, technical assistance, and education. The GLNF CESU seeks to resolve resource problems at multiple scales using interdisciplinary ecosystem studies involving the biological, physical, social, and cultural sciences.

Each regional CESU is hosted by a host university, and the GLNF CESU has been hosted by the University of Minnesota’s Department of Forest Resources since 2002. Regional CESUs operate on renewable five-year master agreement that facilitates collaborative research across partner institutions. Master agreements are amended when new members join and are renewed every five years.

The national CESU Network is a consortium of 14 regional CESUs across the country. The national network is managed by a national CESU office and committee and houses regional offices for each federal agency.


Co-director
Kristen C. Nelson
Interim Department Head and Professor, University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources
Professor, University of Minnesota Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Biology
(612) 624-1277
[email protected]

Co-director
Thomas Parr
Research Coordinator, National Park Service
[email protected]