Losing Ground 2020: Statistics
Suffolk County
Sixth Edition
Published February 2020, Losing Ground: Nature's Value In A Changing Climate reports on the pace and patterns of land development and land protection in Massachusetts between 2012 and 2017.
These statistics describe changes in land use between 2012 and 2017. Estimates of acres of land converted from a natural state to a developed state can be found here, as well as the rate of development in comparison to other areas. Natural land consists of forest, wetland, and water; open land consists of agricultural areas, bare soil, beaches, barrens, or low vegetation; development includes low density residential and commercial/industrial/high density residential development. Percentage calculations are based on the state's total land area, excluding major waterbodies.
Rank in relation to other counties is indicated.
There are 14 counties in Massachusetts.
There are 14 counties in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017 (acres)
104
14
Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017, standardized by county size (acres per square mile)
1.8
11
Total area of development (acres)
31,077
11
Total area of natural land (acres)
4,648
14
Total area of open land (acres)
1,894
14
Percent developed land
83 %
1
Percent natural land
12 %
14
Percent open land
5 %
14
Size of county in acres
37,645
13
Size of county in square miles
58.8
13
The level of protection for the area is summarized below. We also consider the proportion of important conservation resources that are protected in the area, including BioMap2 Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape, Green Infrastructure Network, and relatively climate change resilient land. Percentage calculations are based on the state's total land area, excluding major waterbodies.
Rank in relation to other counties is indicated.
There are 14 counties in Massachusetts.
There are 14 counties in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Total area of permanently conserved land (acres)
5,613
14
Overall percent permanently conserved
15 %
14
Total area of newly conserved land from 2012 to 2019 (acres)
632
14
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 Core Habitat (acres)
26
14
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 CNL (acres)
26
14
Total area of newly conserved TNC resilient land (acres)
7
14
Total area of newly conserved GIN (acres)
632
14
Size of county in acres
37,645
13
Size of county in square miles
58.8
13
Fifth Edition
Released in June 2014, Losing Ground: Planning for Resilience reports on the pace and patterns of land development and land protection in Massachusetts between 2005 and 2013.
These statistics describe changes in land use between 2005 and 2013. Estimates of acres of land converted from a natural state to a developed state can be found here, as well as the rate of development in comparison to other areas. Natural land consists of forest, wetland, and water; open land consists of agricultural areas, bare soil, beaches, barrens, or low vegetation; development includes low density residential and commercial/industrial/high density residential development. Percentage calculations are based on the state's total land area, excluding major waterbodies.
Rank in relation to other counties is indicated.
There are 14 counties in Massachusetts.
There are 14 counties in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Total area of new development (acres)
175
12
Total area of newly developed land from 2005 to 2013, standardized by county size (acres per square mile)
2.9
7
Natural land converted to development (acres)
12
14
Open land converted to development (acres)
163
12
The level of protection for the area is summarized below. We also consider the proportion of important conservation resources that are protected in the area, including BioMap2 Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape, and relatively climate change resilient land. Percentage calculations are based on the state's total land area, excluding major waterbodies.
Rank in relation to other counties is indicated.
There are 14 counties in Massachusetts.
There are 14 counties in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Area protected 2005 - 2013 (acres)
10
14
Percent BioMap2 Core Habitat protected
41 %
10
Percent BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape protected
71 %
1
Percent TNC resilient land protected
30 %
14
Fourth Edition
Released in May 2009, Losing Ground: Beyond the Footprint reports on the patterns of development and their impact on the Nature of Massachusetts, 1999 - 2005.
These statistics describe changes in land use between 1999 and 2005. Estimates of acres of land converted from a natural state to a developed state can be found here, as well as the rate of development in comparison to other areas. Natural land consists of forest, wetland, and water; development includes low density residential and commercial/industrial/high density residential development.
Rank in relation to other counties is indicated.
There are 14 counties in Massachusetts.
There are 14 counties in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Natural land (acres) converted to development (1999-2005)
114
1
Total area of newly developed land from 1999 to 2005, standardized by county size (acres per square mile)
1.9
1
Acres protected for this area is shown below.
Rank in relation to other counties is indicated.
There are 14 counties in Massachusetts.
There are 14 counties in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Acres protected (1999-2005)
23
14