Losing Ground 2020: Statistics
North Coastal 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)
395
19
Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017, standardized by watershed size (acres per square mile)
2.3
20
Total area of development (acres)
47,606
10
Total area of natural land (acres)
54,257
22
Total area of open land (acres)
6,662
22
Percent developed land
44 %
5
Percent natural land
50 %
23
Percent open land
6 %
23
Size of watershed in acres
108,557
18
Size of watershed in square miles
169.6
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, 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)
22,249
21
Overall percent permanently conserved
21 %
17
Total area of newly conserved land from 2012 to 2019 (acres)
3,151
22
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 Core Habitat (acres)
857
22
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 CNL (acres)
1,133
22
Total area of newly conserved TNC resilient land (acres)
119
18
Total area of newly conserved GIN (acres)
3,151
22
Size of watershed in acres
108,557
18
Size of watershed in square miles
169.6
18
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.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Total area of new development (acres)
499
13
Total area of newly developed land from 2005 to 2013, standardized by watershed size (acres per square mile)
2.9
17
Natural land converted to development (acres)
208
19
Open land converted to development (acres)
292
12
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.
There are 27 watersheds in Massachusetts.
Statistic
Value
Rank in state
Area protected 2005 - 2013 (acres)
595
25
Percent BioMap2 Core Habitat protected
51 %
13
Percent BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape protected
45 %
16
Percent TNC resilient land protected
38 %
18