Losing Ground 2020: Statistics
Town of Wayland
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)
37
216
Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017, standardized by town size (acres per square mile)
2.3
208
Total area of development (acres)
2,775
151
Total area of natural land (acres)
6,572
226
Total area of open land (acres)
712
228
Percent developed land
27 %
145
Percent natural land
63 %
195
Percent open land
7 %
197
Size of town in acres
10,149
238
Size of town in square miles
15.9
238
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)
3,469
138
Overall percent permanently conserved
34 %
68
Total area of newly conserved land from 2012 to 2019 (acres)
500
133
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 Core Habitat (acres)
45
209
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 CNL (acres)
45
215
Total area of newly conserved TNC resilient land (acres)
15
127
Total area of newly conserved GIN (acres)
500
133
Size of town in acres
10,149
238
Size of town in square miles
15.9
238
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)
34
208
Total area of newly developed land from 2005 to 2013, standardized by town size (acres per square mile)
2.1
206
Natural land converted to development (acres)
15
219
Open land converted to development (acres)
19
176
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)
8
283
Percent BioMap2 Core Habitat protected
73 %
48
Percent BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape protected
74 %
45
Percent TNC resilient land protected
56 %
59
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)
79
229
Total area of newly developed land from 1999 to 2005, standardized by town size (acres per square mile)
5.0
211
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)
61
192