The Biodiversity and Natural Places Team engages volunteers in issues related to promoting Maryland’s native plants and wildlife, providing them with opportunities to thrive, and protecting our beloved invaluable habitats, from forests and grasslands to,parks, streams, rivers, and the Bay. We engage in education and advocacy, testify at hearings, and host panel discussions and workgroup deep dives on issues that matter to you!
Recent events include a professional landscaper panel discussing electrification of lawncare equipment and an evening with a noted native plant and wildlife author. Our recent advocacy accomplishments include a))active support for eight bills in the 2025 MD legislative session covering native plants, stream restoration, vernal pools, stormwater, wildlife corridors, electrification of lawn care equipment, artificial light at night (ALAN) pollution and synthetic turf.
The Latest
Some of our current campaigns are:
- Bill Testimony During the Maryland General Assembly Legislative Session
- Increasing Biodiversity within Maryland’s 30x30 goal
- Advancing Education on Native and Invasive Plants
- Protect Our Maryland Streams
- Reducing Stormwater Runoff
- Fighting Synthetic Turf and Rubberized Playgrounds
- Preserving Critical Research at Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC)
- Reducing Artificial Light at Night (ALAN)
See also the work of our active subcommittees!
Get Involved
We need YOU to continue this important work.
Click here to join the
Natural Places Committee Team
We have a listserv if you'd like to receive action alerts and info on upcoming events related to Natural Places issues.
Click here to join the Natural Places News listserv
How to help?
We are looking for contributors to all sorts of efforts to help everyone to have access to enjoy, explore, and preserve our natural places and promote the concept of access to nature as a human right… Outdoors for All!
Help create a list of favorite Federal, State, County, and private parks. Learn how planting natives in your yard can save our pollinators, birds, and wildlife, and how to stay safe in tick season, or offer to take notes at a meeting.
Some interesting links for your continuing education
Click on any of the topics below for more details and join any of the many workgroup meetings on our calendar!
- Lawncare is Electrifying, video June, 2025
- "Native and Invasive Plants Panel with Delegate Luedtke, Luke Chesek, Judy Fulton, Chuck Woolery, and Lauren Hubbard" video (June 18, 2022)
- Endangered Reptiles and Amphibians video (Oct. 28, 2021)
- "Hey, Where Did All the Mammals Go?" video by Dr. Joel Cohen (July 21, 2021)
- Maryland's Old Growth Forests
- Wildlife and Plant Corridors Flyer (June 2021)
- Videos from the 2021 Taking Nature Black Conference Celebration (Audubon, now Nature Forward)
- Magnificent Moths of Maryland Video by Kerry Wixted (Apr. 26, 2021)
- Maryland Butterflies Video by Rick Borchelt
- Maryland Native Plants Program
- Maryland Native Plant Guide, Piedmont Region (2025)
- Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas, Field Guide (2022)
- "Maryland's Endangered Habitats" with Rod Simmons (Dec. 16, 2020)
Check sierraclub.org/maryland/calendar to RSVP to the next meeting.
Click here to join the Natural Places News listserv if you'd like to receive action alerts and info on upcoming events related to Natural Places issues.