Lake County Land Trust President Pete McGee, and Land Trust board member Roberta Lyons, right, were pleased to present the Lake County Land Trust's Supporter of the Year award to Elaine Mansell who volunteers to lead children's nature education programs at the Trust's Rodman Preserve each month. The presentation took place at the Land Trust dinner on Saturday, October 8, 2011, at Rancho de la Fuente in Lakeport, Calif. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The annual Lake County Land Trust benefit dinner, held Saturday, Oct. 8, at Rancho de la Fuente, was a great evening of socializing with friends, bidding on fabulous silent auction items, enjoying Lake County wines, dining on fine food by Ciao Thyme catering, and hearing about local biologist’s Greg Giusti’s ideas of sustainability.

The Land Trust has its annual dinner as both a fundraiser and a “friend,” raiser and all agree this was one of the best ever.

Giusti, a wildland biologist with the U.C. Cooperative Extension, discussed his ideas on the concept of “sustainability.”

He went over the numerous issues that face Californians now and how they relate to sustainability including water and timber management, exotic species and habitat fragmentation.

Giusti said there are many interests that must work together to find common ground, pointing out that this is something the Lake County Land Trust, like all land trusts, tries to accomplish.

“It’s not easy,” Giusti said.

He talked about how important “applied environmentalism” is and that it is necessary to have a give-and-take approach when looking at natural resource management.

“We have to be flexible and work together,” Giusti said. “We have to be able to work with people; really, the concept of sustainability is people working with people.”

He noted how human activity has drastically impacted wildlife: There are 1,400 legal dams in California alone.

“What does that look like?” he asked, “and what has been the impact on salmon species in this state?”

Giusti also stressed the damage that “fragmentation” has done to species throughout the state and how we need to have sustainable approaches to entire landscapes.

He pointed out that Clear Lake, is a “sum of its parts,” and we need to continue our vigilance regarding the impact of possible quagga mussel invasion.

In conclusion, Giusti noted that humans are making choices that affect humans and non-humans alike – and it is important for humans to provide for the needs of all species; all organisms need to be able to sustain themselves over space and time, he said.

Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Land Trust’s annual “Supporter of the Year,” award which was given this year to Elaine Mansell who is leading children’s nature education programs at the Lake County Land Trust’s Rodman Preserve the third Saturday of each month.

Mansell was honored for her excellent work of inspiring children to get close to nature through her “Rodman Explorers” program at the preserve.

The Lake County Land Trust is a private, nonprofit organization with a mission to protect and preserve Lake County’s valuable natural habitats.

The trust owns and operates the Rodman and Rabbit Hill Preserves and is active in current conservation efforts.

Go to www.lakecountylandtrus.org or join the Land Trust on Facebook for more information.

Greg Giusti, a wildland biologist with the U.C. Cooperative Extension, discussed his ideas on the concept of