Losing Ground 2020: Statistics

Town of Westhampton

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)
58
161
Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017, standardized by town size (acres per square mile)
2.1
218
Total area of development (acres)
539
294
Total area of natural land (acres)
15,755
68
Total area of open land (acres)
1,103
159
Percent developed land
3 %
298
Percent natural land
89 %
37
Percent open land
6 %
215
Size of town in acres
17,530
104
Size of town in square miles
27.4
104
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)
3,646
133
Overall percent permanently conserved
21 %
190
Total area of newly conserved land from 2012 to 2019 (acres)
1,243
22
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 Core Habitat (acres)
644
17
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 CNL (acres)
925
17
Total area of newly conserved TNC resilient land (acres)
99
14
Total area of newly conserved GIN (acres)
1,243
22
Size of town in acres
17,530
104
Size of town in square miles
27.4
104
 

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)
37
201
Total area of newly developed land from 2005 to 2013, standardized by town size (acres per square mile)
1.4
251
Natural land converted to development (acres)
31
150
Open land converted to development (acres)
6
253
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)
136
175
Percent BioMap2 Core Habitat protected
27 %
251
Percent BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape protected
24 %
259
Percent TNC resilient land protected
18 %
270
 

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)
63
256
Total area of newly developed land from 1999 to 2005, standardized by town size (acres per square mile)
2.3
299
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)
0
278