Losing Ground 2020: Statistics
Town of Cheshire
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 towns/cities is indicated.
There are 351 towns/cities in Massachusetts.
There are 351 towns/cities in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017 (acres)
14
299
Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017, standardized by town size (acres per square mile)
0.5
327
Total area of development (acres)
860
273
Total area of natural land (acres)
13,664
93
Total area of open land (acres)
3,018
34
Percent developed land
5 %
284
Percent natural land
76 %
99
Percent open land
17 %
24
Size of town in acres
17,646
101
Size of town in square miles
27.6
101
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 towns/cities is indicated.
There are 351 towns/cities in Massachusetts.
There are 351 towns/cities in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Total area of permanently conserved land (acres)
6,694
60
Overall percent permanently conserved
38 %
46
Total area of newly conserved land from 2012 to 2019 (acres)
171
264
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 Core Habitat (acres)
66
186
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 CNL (acres)
105
167
Total area of newly conserved TNC resilient land (acres)
7
194
Total area of newly conserved GIN (acres)
171
264
Size of town in acres
17,646
101
Size of town in square miles
27.6
101
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 towns/cities is indicated.
There are 351 towns/cities in Massachusetts.
There are 351 towns/cities in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Total area of new development (acres)
15
273
Total area of newly developed land from 2005 to 2013, standardized by town size (acres per square mile)
0.6
298
Natural land converted to development (acres)
3
322
Open land converted to development (acres)
12
211
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 towns/cities is indicated.
There are 351 towns/cities in Massachusetts.
There are 351 towns/cities in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Area protected 2005 - 2013 (acres)
178
161
Percent BioMap2 Core Habitat protected
68 %
59
Percent BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape protected
52 %
126
Percent TNC resilient land protected
52 %
73
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 towns/cities is indicated.
There are 351 towns/cities in Massachusetts.
There are 351 towns/cities in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Natural land (acres) converted to development (1999-2005)
54
277
Total area of newly developed land from 1999 to 2005, standardized by town size (acres per square mile)
1.4
327
Acres protected for this area is shown below.
Rank in relation to other towns/cities is indicated.
There are 351 towns/cities in Massachusetts.
There are 351 towns/cities in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Acres protected (1999-2005)
1,799
8