The following table contains data on the gross changes in the URBAN and BARREN LAND categories combined together, between 1995 AND 2002, and can provide important information on changes to natural lands in New Jersey. The total acreage values listed in the right hand column represent the total number of acres in each county that were either AGRICULTURE, FOREST, WATER, or WETLANDS in 1995 and which were converted to new URBAN or BARREN LAND by 2002. The conversion of lands to URBAN and BARREN represents a probable permanent loss of natural habitat in the state.
The total acreage of each of the four categories converted to URBAN or BARREN LAND is listed for each county, as well as the total of all categories, and calculations of yearly and daily conversion rates during the period between 1995 and 2002. In the 7-year period between 1995 and 2002, 130,473 acres of AGRICULTURE, FOREST, WATER, or WETLANDS were converted to new URBAN or BARREN LAND.
On an acre-per-day basis, natural lands have been converted to developed and barren lands at a rate of over 51 acres per day, between 1995 and 2002. Many times you may hear NJDEP representatives refer to the loss as "about 50 acres per day."
More on this topic
NJDEP Land Use/Land Cover Natural Lands Changes 1995-Natural Types to 2002-Barren or Urban Types
Natural Land Use: to a Barren or Urban Land Use Type
Agriculture
Forest
Water
Wetlands
TOTAL (acres)
ATLANTIC
804.59
5,664.76
291.39
280.71
7,041.44
BERGEN
97.21
2,223.66
15.77
389.90
2,726.54
BURLINGTON
4,845.14
4,285.21
20.67
1,572.51
10,723.53
CAMDEN
501.82
2,232.13
58.22
254.24
3,046.41
CAPE MAY
351.71
1,744.62
177.62
466.25
2,740.20
CUMBERLAND
1,006.15
2,248.25
98.45
492.96
3,845.81
ESSEX
57.75
853.55
6.95
175.67
1,093.93
GLOUCESTER
4,378.27
3,146.78
49.80
594.53
8,169.38
HUDSON
0.00
845.24
19.22
61.53
925.99
HUNTERDON
5,201.92
3,265.49
4.36
355.54
8,827.31
MERCER
3,715.33
2,005.29
10.93
929.02
6,660.57
MIDDLESEX
3,525.19
3,813.14
27.40
1,650.53
9,016.26
MONMOUTH
6,788.48
6,110.30
44.30
2,494.04
15,437.12
MORRIS
1,498.14
6,604.08
70.22
705.97
8,878.42
OCEAN
856.02
11,424.49
674.68
960.72
13,915.90
PASSAIC
24.19
1,372.06
35.70
175.69
1,607.64
SALEM
1,273.18
845.25
7.90
305.62
2,431.95
SOMERSET
4,698.18
4,803.22
25.24
1,149.92
10,676.56
SUSSEX
2,186.42
4,179.18
12.84
294.56
6,673.00
UNION
13.13
730.43
11.87
123.90
879.33
WARREN
2,791.23
2,209.35
24.24
95.21
5,120.03
7 year Loss:
44,614.07
70,606.48
1,687.77
13,529.02
130,437.33
Annual Loss:
6,373.44
10,086.64
241.11
1,932.72
18,633.90
Daily Loss:
17.46
27.63
0.66
5.30
51.05
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