Public to Get a Voice on Board of Nature Reserve

Three so-called “public seats” are open on the board of directors of the Nature Reserve of Orange County. The new nonprofit group is coordinating the 37,000-acre preserve, designed to protect sensitive habitat in the county’s central and coastal areas.

The preserve is the first of its kind created under the Natural Community Conservation Plan, a Wilson administration initiative that attempts to balance economic and environmental interests.

Its formation was an effort to defuse tensions over the California gnatcatcher, a rare bird that dwells on some of the county’s most valuable real estate.

The board, made up largely of landowners and government representatives, originally was supposed to have one public member. But environmentalists lobbied successfully for more public representation as preserve plans were being drawn up last spring.

The board is seeking at-large members from the fields of environment, business and recreation.

Those interested must submit letters by Jan. 31 explaining their qualifications.

A board subcommittee will review the applications and make recommendations to the board at its March 14 meeting.

Public members are to be elected by the current 13 members. Positions are unpaid, and terms last two years.

Applications for the public seats should be mailed to: The Nature Reserve of Orange County; 300 N. Flower St.; Santa Ana, CA, 92703. More information is available from the reserve’s executive director, Tim Neely, at (714) 834-2552.