Losing Ground 2020: Statistics

Town of Sudbury

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)
70
133
Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017, standardized by town size (acres per square mile)
2.8
173
Total area of development (acres)
4,053
89
Total area of natural land (acres)
10,631
137
Total area of open land (acres)
959
182
Percent developed land
26 %
154
Percent natural land
67 %
167
Percent open land
6 %
221
Size of town in acres
15,842
123
Size of town in square miles
24.8
123
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)
4,974
93
Overall percent permanently conserved
31 %
94
Total area of newly conserved land from 2012 to 2019 (acres)
422
166
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 Core Habitat (acres)
154
113
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 CNL (acres)
85
181
Total area of newly conserved TNC resilient land (acres)
16
119
Total area of newly conserved GIN (acres)
422
166
Size of town in acres
15,842
123
Size of town in square miles
24.8
123
 

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)
71
124
Total area of newly developed land from 2005 to 2013, standardized by town size (acres per square mile)
2.9
159
Natural land converted to development (acres)
46
105
Open land converted to development (acres)
25
146
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)
437
89
Percent BioMap2 Core Habitat protected
63 %
75
Percent BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape protected
76 %
37
Percent TNC resilient land protected
51 %
74
 

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)
176
97
Total area of newly developed land from 1999 to 2005, standardized by town size (acres per square mile)
7.1
122
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)
75
181