This May, Overland Expo West served as the powerful kickoff for the “Stop the Stink(net)” campaign—an ambitious, community-powered initiative to combat stinknet, an invasive and dangerous weed rapidly spreading across the American Southwest. Stinknet is an alarming invasive plant that threatens our communities by destroying biodiversity with its aggressive growth, causing fires when the plants dry, and emitting toxic gases when burned.
With the support of a $1,244 grant from the Overland Expo Foundation, the Friends of Ironwood Forest and Tucson Bird Alliance took the fight directly to the overlanding community. Throughout the weekend 400 visitors stopped by the Stop the Stink(net) booth to learn how they could help protect public lands.
Raising Awareness, Building Action
The exhibit—marked by a bold yellow banner and real stinknet samples—was designed to both educate and inspire action. Through engaging displays, fact sheets, car visor cards, and hands-on demos with boot brushes and seed samples, attendees learned to identify stinknet and understand how it spreads.
Visitors to the booth fell into three main categories: those already familiar with stinknet (often due to personal struggles in Maricopa County or southern Arizona), those surprised by its dangers, and those from outside the invasion zone who were unfamiliar with the issue but willing to help protect the areas they visited. Several overlanders shared heartbreaking stories of battling infestations, lost home insurance, allergic reactions, and ecological damage near their homes.
Despite these challenges, the response was overwhelmingly positive. From kids proudly sporting stinknet stickers to seasoned off-roaders pledging to report new sightings, the campaign resonated with the community’s love for public lands and shared stewardship.
Measurable Impact
Over 150 information kits were distributed, nearly all boot brushes were given out, and countless stickers were proudly displayed. The team made valuable contacts with outdoor enthusiasts, clubs, volunteer groups, and other non-profit organizations.
Notably, the campaign emphasized a critical point: stinknet can still be stopped—if people act now. The key lies in reporting, early removal, and public awareness.
How You Can Get Involved
- Learn to identify stinknet: Visit stinknet.org for plant ID guides and reporting tools.
- Report sightings: Use stinknet.org or email [email protected] to share locations.
- Volunteer locally: Join pull crews, attend events, or organize educational sessions in your area.
- Support awareness: Share stickers, printouts, and messages with your community.
Together, we can “Stop the Stink(net)”—before it spreads further.