Losing Ground 2020: Statistics

Islands 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)
400
17
Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017, standardized by watershed size (acres per square mile)
2.6
17
Total area of development (acres)
12,019
21
Total area of natural land (acres)
74,520
19
Total area of open land (acres)
13,210
14
Percent developed land
12 %
19
Percent natural land
75 %
10
Percent open land
13 %
2
Size of watershed in acres
99,789
19
Size of watershed in square miles
155.9
19
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)
35,322
15
Overall percent permanently conserved
35 %
5
Total area of newly conserved land from 2012 to 2019 (acres)
3,859
20
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 Core Habitat (acres)
3,023
5
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 CNL (acres)
2,359
14
Total area of newly conserved TNC resilient land (acres)
109
21
Total area of newly conserved GIN (acres)
3,859
20
Size of watershed in acres
99,789
19
Size of watershed in square miles
155.9
19
 

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)
319
22
Total area of newly developed land from 2005 to 2013, standardized by watershed size (acres per square mile)
2.1
23
Natural land converted to development (acres)
135
23
Open land converted to development (acres)
184
18
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)
693
24
Percent BioMap2 Core Habitat protected
45 %
18
Percent BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape protected
46 %
15
Percent TNC resilient land protected
33 %
21
 

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)
895
17
Total area of newly developed land from 1999 to 2005, standardized by watershed size (acres per square mile)
5.8
19
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)
619
20