If you were a bird migrating along the Atlantic Flyway, your rest stop options now include Southern Maryland.
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams joined partners and community members in Charles County on Dec. 13 to celebrate the establishment of Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge as the 573rd and newest unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
A newly acquired 31-acre parcel in Nanjemoy is the first of several donations that will become part of the new refuge and provide a crucial protected habitat for threatened and endangered species and expand outdoor recreational opportunities for the 10 million people who visit, live and work in the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan region, a release from the Fish and Wildlife service said.
“Today, we mark an incredible milestone in locally led conservation efforts as we welcome the Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge into our National Wildlife Refuge System,” Haaland said. “Across the nation, the Biden-Harris administration has partnered with local communities, partners and tribes to protect treasured places, bolster climate resilience, and ensure current and future generations have public lands and waters to enjoy and recreate. Our collective work will ensure the health and enduring legacy of the National Wildlife Refuge System.”