Losing Ground 2020: Statistics
Boston Harbor Watershed
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 watersheds is indicated.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017 (acres)
840
12
Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017, standardized by watershed size (acres per square mile)
2.9
15
Total area of development (acres)
107,808
1
Total area of natural land (acres)
70,607
20
Total area of open land (acres)
8,631
19
Percent developed land
58 %
1
Percent natural land
38 %
27
Percent open land
5 %
26
Size of watershed in acres
187,067
14
Size of watershed in square miles
292.3
14
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 watersheds is indicated.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Total area of permanently conserved land (acres)
35,051
16
Overall percent permanently conserved
19 %
19
Total area of newly conserved land from 2012 to 2019 (acres)
4,683
18
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 Core Habitat (acres)
702
23
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 CNL (acres)
559
23
Total area of newly conserved TNC resilient land (acres)
96
22
Total area of newly conserved GIN (acres)
4,683
18
Size of watershed in acres
187,067
14
Size of watershed in square miles
292.3
14