Maryland Invasive Plant Advisory Committee to Meet for First Time

A News Release from the Maryland Department of Agriculture

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT: Julie Oberg, 410-841-5888 or Vanessa Orlando, 410-841-5889


MEETING NOTICE: Invasive Plant Advisory Committee to Meet for First Time
General Assembly Created Committee to Develop Risk Assessment Protocols

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 23, 2012) - The Maryland Department of Agriculture's
(MDA) Invasive Plants Advisory Committee, established during the 2011
Legislative Session as an advisory body to the Secretary, will meet for the
first time on Friday, January 27, at 9 a.m. at MDA headquarters in
Annapolis. The Committee's charge is to advise the Secretary on regulations
that should be adopted to establish a risk assessment protocol for invasive
plants and to establish lists of invasive plants using the protocol. This
first meeting will focus on organizing the 11-member committee and setting
goals and timelines for completing the first year's task for establishing a
science-based risk assessment protocol for invasive plants.

"The nursery and landscape industry is the second largest agriculture sector
in Maryland, second only to our poultry industry," said Agriculture
Secretary Buddy Hance. "It is critical that we do all we can to prevent and
control the potential damage that invasive plants can inflict on our plant
and animal communities in natural areas, wildlands, managed areas, farms and
even the backyards of residents. The members of this committee have
considerable expertise and experience with invasive plants and they are well
regarded within industry. I look forward to receiving their
recommendations." 

The committee is chaired by Carol Holko, MDA's Assistant Secretary of Plant
Industries and Pest Management. The full text of the bill which created the
committee can be found at:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/chapters_noln/Ch_142_hb0831T.pdf.