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Since 1990, ‘Urban Wilds’ sites totaling 189.6 acres have been protected, according to the Boston Natural Areas Network.  The Department of Conservation and Recreation acquired 93.3 acres, Boston Parks Department 33 acres, Massachusetts Audubon Society 34 acres, and Trustees of Reservations 25 acres.  In total, since the Urban Wilds effort began in 1975, close to 831 acres have been protected in Boston, almost 517 acres have been lost to development, and the status of about 605 remain to be determined.

The Urban Wilds protected areas include major riverfront and harborfront lands along Boston Harbor, Dorchester Bay, Neponset River, Mother Brook and Chelsea Creek (East Boston, Dorchester, Mattapan, Hyde Park), as well as areas of salt marsh, riverbank and upland.  Many Urban Wilds were former industrial sites, despite their waterfront locations, and were contaminated.  Their protection by public park agencies has resulted in lands restored to natural conditions and safely accessible for recreation and the enjoyment of nature.  Inland, a significant corridor of woodlands in Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury has been protected, providing wildlife habitat and bird flyways.

In addition to acquisitions, the Boston Conservation Commission has accepted conservation restrictions for Urban Wilds sites that have been largely developed.  Although not necessarily large in acres, the conservation restrictions are important to preserve highly sensitive parts of sites and to buffer existing neighborhoods.