Paradise Lost

A report by the Massachusetts Audubon Society concludes that residential development represents a growing proportion of land consumption in the state, even though the state has seen little or no growth in single-family housing starts. Between 1985 and 1999, the report concludes, the state lost about 40 acres per day to new development, and nine out of 10 acres lost went to residential development, with 65 percent used for low-density, large-lot construction. The report–“Losing Ground: At What Cost?”– can be found at www.massaudubon.org.