Losing Ground 2020: Statistics

Cape Cod 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.

Statistic

Value

Rank in state

Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017 (acres)
1,333
9
Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017, standardized by watershed size (acres per square mile)
3.3
13
Total area of development (acres)
82,440
4
Total area of natural land (acres)
147,152
11
Total area of open land (acres)
26,142
7
Percent developed land
32 %
6
Percent natural land
58 %
22
Percent open land
10 %
9
Size of watershed in acres
255,748
8
Size of watershed in square miles
399.6
8
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.

Statistic

Value

Rank in state

Total area of permanently conserved land (acres)
87,725
5
Overall percent permanently conserved
34 %
7
Total area of newly conserved land from 2012 to 2019 (acres)
5,475
15
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 Core Habitat (acres)
1,585
15
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 CNL (acres)
2,451
13
Total area of newly conserved TNC resilient land (acres)
109
20
Total area of newly conserved GIN (acres)
5,475
15
Size of watershed in acres
255,748
8
Size of watershed in square miles
399.6
8
 

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 watersheds is indicated.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.

Statistic

Value

Rank in state

Total area of new development (acres)
1003
11
Total area of newly developed land from 2005 to 2013, standardized by watershed size (acres per square mile)
2.5
21
Natural land converted to development (acres)
593
11
Open land converted to development (acres)
410
10
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 watersheds is indicated.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.

Statistic

Value

Rank in state

Area protected 2005 - 2013 (acres)
3,022
11
Percent BioMap2 Core Habitat protected
69 %
2
Percent BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape protected
65 %
5
Percent TNC resilient land protected
57 %
2
 

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 watersheds is indicated.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.

Statistic

Value

Rank in state

Natural land (acres) converted to development (1999-2005)
2,698
8
Total area of newly developed land from 1999 to 2005, standardized by watershed size (acres per square mile)
6.7
15
Acres protected for this area is shown below.
Rank in relation to other watersheds is indicated.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.

Statistic

Value

Rank in state

Acres protected (1999-2005)
2,334
13