Dear Friend,

The Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Club requests restoration and expansion of research by the Federal Government, including the US Department of Agriculture, on host specific biological controls of Japanese Stiltgrass and other non-native invasive plant species. The field trip hikers of the Sierra Club remember how bad it was this year on our outings events.

Please take a minute to send a message to your delegate and state senator urging them to vote for restoration and expansion of research by the Federal Government on host specific biological controls of Japanese Stiltgrass and other non-native invasive species.

Japanese Stiltgrass has destroyed 10% of the natural environment in our region according to the surveys done by the National Park Service several years ago. We have been removing it at many of our preservation sites so that native plants, and the butterflies and birds that depend on them, can recover.

One of our most productive activities to save our natural areas is to facilitate research that will make host specific biological controls available.

Don't let Japanese Stiltgrass Take Over Our Parks!

Insects that consume the non-native invasive plant species can substitute for the controls where the species came from in the world. Of the 15 top non-native invasive plant species in the mid-Atlantic region three (Purple Loosestrife, Mile-a-minute and Garlic Mustard) now have one or two non-native insects or fungi that feed on them. These insects were brought over after being tested for host specificity in Eurasia and then tested in quarantine conditions in the United States.

We want the same research done for finding biological controls for Japanese Stiltgrass so that our native plants and animals can live healthy lives in our parks.

Help by taking just ten seconds of your time to send a message to your Federal and state legislators today.

Thanks for all you do for the environment!

P.S. After you take action, please forward this message!