Losing Ground 2020: Statistics

Town of Montague

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.

Statistic

Value

Rank in state

Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017 (acres)
55
171
Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017, standardized by town size (acres per square mile)
1.7
240
Total area of development (acres)
2,081
195
Total area of natural land (acres)
15,585
70
Total area of open land (acres)
2,126
67
Percent developed land
10 %
248
Percent natural land
78 %
87
Percent open land
11 %
99
Size of town in acres
20,150
79
Size of town in square miles
31.5
79
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.

Statistic

Value

Rank in state

Total area of permanently conserved land (acres)
7,915
40
Overall percent permanently conserved
39 %
41
Total area of newly conserved land from 2012 to 2019 (acres)
1,128
32
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 Core Habitat (acres)
598
20
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 CNL (acres)
659
29
Total area of newly conserved TNC resilient land (acres)
69
20
Total area of newly conserved GIN (acres)
1,128
32
Size of town in acres
20,150
79
Size of town in square miles
31.5
79
 

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.

Statistic

Value

Rank in state

Total area of new development (acres)
61
149
Total area of newly developed land from 2005 to 2013, standardized by town size (acres per square mile)
2.0
216
Natural land converted to development (acres)
40
122
Open land converted to development (acres)
21
167
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.

Statistic

Value

Rank in state

Area protected 2005 - 2013 (acres)
627
59
Percent BioMap2 Core Habitat protected
49 %
140
Percent BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape protected
54 %
113
Percent TNC resilient land protected
42 %
112
 

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.

Statistic

Value

Rank in state

Natural land (acres) converted to development (1999-2005)
85
212
Total area of newly developed land from 1999 to 2005, standardized by town size (acres per square mile)
2.7
285
Acres protected for this area is shown below.
Rank in relation to other towns/cities is indicated.
There are 351 towns/cities in Massachusetts.

Statistic

Value

Rank in state

Acres protected (1999-2005)
1,799
9