NASA ceremonially handed over about 105 acres of its Goddard Space Flight Center woodland in Greenbelt, Maryland, to the adjacent Patuxent Research Refuge on Tuesday. The property, once known as Area 400, is now part of the largest unfragmented forest between Washington and Baltimore - a nearly 13,000-acre woodland that serves as the nation's only refuge established specifically for wildlife research. (It also supports recreational activities like walking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, and hunting, in case you need a break from saving the planet.)

Jamie Dunn, director of NASA Goddard, struck a suitably magnanimous tone: “For over six decades, NASA Goddard has helped shape humanity’s understanding of Earth. We’re glad to present this land to our colleagues in the Fish and Wildlife Service, whose conservation and research helps do the real legwork in preserving our Blue Marble for future generations.” NASA had used Area 400 for propellant research since the 1960s, but that work has largely moved to other states or private companies, leaving the land as a candidate for divestment. Talks began in 2021, and the transfer took effect on February 23. NASA then deconstructed the buildings, roadway, and utility services on the two-and-a-half-acre clearing that had hosted 11 small structures.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik praised the interagency cooperation: “Through working with partners on the best use of land, as exemplified with this land transfer, we can continue to conserve America’s natural beauty and expand outdoor recreation opportunities for future generations.” In other words, one government agency finally gave some land back to nature after deciding it didn't need quite so much space for testing things that go boom.