Coco
McCabe

The Great Marsh (2018-2019)

The global politics of tackling climate change are daunting, particularly here in the US where our own president, a climate change skeptic, has announced we will withdraw from an international pact to curb emissions. The enormity of the problem makes me feel hopeless, until I think about the Great Marsh and all that it does both to support a vibrant way of life in the towns in its midst and to protect them from the ferocity of the Atlantic.

The largest contiguous stretch of saltmarsh in New England, this 20,000-acre ecosystem of barrier beaches, tidal creeks, uplands and mudflats winds through seven Massachusetts communities where more than 85,000 people live. All of us rely on this mostly undisturbed wilderness to buffer storms, reduce coastal erosion, and minimize the effects of flooding. Many of us make our livings from the bounty the land and water provides through clamming, fishing, and tourism. And we’re not alone in that dependence: This is also vital habitat for migratory birds, including threatened species like the piping plover and the saltmarsh sparrow.

The Great Marsh is intact for now, but it’s increasingly under threat. Human activity along its fringes and, more ominously, sea-level rise, warming temperatures, and bigger and more frequent storm surges are all taking a toll. Ensuring the health of this gem, where teams of scientists are exploring how to safeguard its vitality, starts with public awareness. And that’s what these photos aim to do: They are a paean to coastal mud and grass—and all the life they breed and protect—everywhere.