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Peter Winkler has been a member of Land Conservancy of Lake County (LCLC) since 1992 and has served on its board of directors from 2001 to 2009. He spent 35 years as an adjunct professor primarily at Oakton Community College. LCLC is a non-government organization similar to Openlands and The Nature's Conservancy, that relies on membership dues, grants and donations, and does not receive and funding from taxes. Its goal is to maintain and preserve through stewardship, undeveloped land. Currently there are 55 volunteers who help by clearing, cutting, and planting. With Lake County Forest Preserves, any land they acquire must be at least 100 acres unless it is adjacent to existing preserves. LCLC will accept those lands that do not meet that requirement. Both entities use stewardship, a form of collaborative planning and responsible management of the environment through sustainability practices that respect the ecosystem. LCLC acquires their land through land trusts, private reserves and conversation easements. Conservation easements protect the landscapes from development and safeguard land for sustainable use. It also protects drinking water sources as well as endangered wildlife. It is an effective way to achieve public benefits at low cost especially when there is not enough public funding to protect land and water resources. LCLC is also involved in supporting legislative acts, education and volunteer programs. Peter, his wife Darlene, and their two children live in Lake County. He was the first person to earn a master of science in environmental biology from Eastern Illinois University. He also took a position at Abbott Labs as a validation scientist. He says that in his retirement, he now limits his volunteer activities to saving one neglected and mis-used planet needed by all. |
