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How many acres of natural lands have been converted to developed lands per day over the
time period 1995-2002 according to the NJDEP's land use land cover data?
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
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Natural Land Use:
to a
Barren or Urban
Land Use Type
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Agriculture
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Forest
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Water
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Wetlands
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TOTAL (acres)
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ATLANTIC
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804.59
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5,664.76
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291.39
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280.71
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7,041.44
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BERGEN
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97.21
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2,223.66
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15.77
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389.90
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2,726.54
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BURLINGTON
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4,845.14
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4,285.21
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20.67
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1,572.51
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10,723.53
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CAMDEN
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501.82
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2,232.13
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58.22
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254.24
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3,046.41
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CAPE MAY
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351.71
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1,744.62
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177.62
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466.25
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2,740.20
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CUMBERLAND
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1,006.15
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2,248.25
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98.45
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492.96
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3,845.81
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ESSEX
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57.75
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853.55
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6.95
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175.67
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1,093.93
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GLOUCESTER
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4,378.27
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3,146.78
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49.80
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594.53
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8,169.38
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HUDSON
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0.00
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845.24
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19.22
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61.53
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925.99
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HUNTERDON
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5,201.92
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3,265.49
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4.36
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355.54
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8,827.31
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MERCER
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3,715.33
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2,005.29
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10.93
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929.02
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6,660.57
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MIDDLESEX
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3,525.19
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3,813.14
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27.40
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1,650.53
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9,016.26
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MONMOUTH
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6,788.48
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6,110.30
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44.30
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2,494.04
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15,437.12
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MORRIS
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1,498.14
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6,604.08
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70.22
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705.97
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8,878.42
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OCEAN
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856.02
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11,424.49
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674.68
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960.72
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13,915.90
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PASSAIC
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24.19
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1,372.06
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35.70
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175.69
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1,607.64
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SALEM
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1,273.18
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845.25
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7.90
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305.62
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2,431.95
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SOMERSET
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4,698.18
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4,803.22
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25.24
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1,149.92
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10,676.56
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SUSSEX
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2,186.42
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4,179.18
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12.84
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294.56
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6,673.00
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UNION
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13.13
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730.43
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11.87
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123.90
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879.33
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WARREN
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2,791.23
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2,209.35
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24.24
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95.21
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5,120.03
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TOTAL (acres)
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7 year Loss:
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44,614.07
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70,606.48
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1,687.77
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13,529.02
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130,437.33
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Annual Loss:
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6,373.44
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10,086.64
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241.11
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1,932.72
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18,633.90
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Daily Loss:
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17.46
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27.63
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0.66
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5.30
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51.05 |
Click here to view the general category descriptions.
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