Conservationists honored

Three Laguna Beach residents were honored April 15 by the City Council for environmental contributions. Winter Bonnin, Derek Ostensen and Walker Reed were selected by the Environmental Committee for the annual award, which had the theme of Conservation this year.

Bonnin, a Crystal Cove State Park interpreter, was nominated by park docent Susan Wilson for her dedication to the park’s five volunteer programs.

For 10 years, Bonnin has managed these programs, which train docents to be naturalists, trail guides, tide pool educators and to staff the park’s facilities.

She also organizes the annual Coastal Clean-up and Earth Day events, and produced “Between a Rock and a Hard Place,” an award-winning educational video that explains the impact humans have on tide pools.

Bonnin said the committee’s recognition of her work gave her a great sense of accomplishment.

“I am incredibly flattered, honored and humbled to have been nominated and given this award,” she said.

She believes educating the public is the first step to bettering the environment.

“People will only care about protecting [park resources] if they first learn to love them,” she said. “I feel rewarded every day that I’m able to educate more people.”

Ostensen, acquisitions consultant for the Laguna Canyon Foundation, was nominated by the foundation’s director, Meg Jones, for his efforts in negotiating and acquiring open-space properties that are now part of Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

In the past five years, the foundation, in collaboration with The Conservation Fund, has acquired eight properties, totaling 238 acres of habitat.

“I am so happy to make a contribution to Laguna’s special community and its remarkable natural environment,” Ostensen said. “So many extraordinary people have come before me and worked passionately and diligently to create the Laguna we all love so much and I’m grateful to have been able to join that visionary effort.”

Reed, a board member of the Laguna Ocean Foundation, was nominated by Zero Trash Laguna organizer Chip McDermott, for his long-term efforts to ban the use of single-use, expanded polystyrene containers from food service providers.

The ordinance was adopted by the City Council in December and will be effective July 1.

His goal is to educate the public about the danger of these materials, so they are more inclined to use substitute containers that are not hazardous to the environment, particularly marine life.

“Consumers need to be aware of the materials they use, so they can make choices based on what’s good for the environment,” he said.

Reed said many small restaurants in Laguna embraced the ban, but the effort saw resistance from larger restaurant chains.

However, due to the ordinance, these restaurants will be forced to comply.

In his mission to “do a little bit at a time,” Reed will next focus on banning plastic bags.

ASHLEY BREEDING can be reached at ashley.breeding@latimes.com.