Palm Beach Illustrated, February 15, 2024
Take an exclusive peek into ForEverglades, the limited-edition book published in support of a $75 million endowment campaign to restore and protect one of Florida’s most threatened natural resources
Humidity hangs above still, dark water, where razor-edged grass sways beneath a relentless sun and ancient cypress with knobby knees reach toward a star-filled night. An insect’s buzz precedes its bite and the watery landscape hides creatures that slither, swim, flutter, and—most worrisome of all—chomp.
This mysterious scene feels far removed from the developed regions of Palm Beach County, with its sandy beaches, luxurious homes, and inviting shops, restaurants, and other spots for vacationers. And yet, the solid ground of these contemporary places is lapped by an ancient swamp that has been forced to retreat for more than a hundred years.
It wasn’t malicious intent that diminished the footprint of Florida’s wetlands, says Mac Stone, a natural history photojournalist who counts publications such as National Geographic among his credits. Born in Gainesville and currently a South Carolina resident, Stone first discovered the Everglades on a family paddling trip as a teenager. He returned 10 years later, working as a field biologist for the National Audubon Society.
Stone travels the United States and the globe covering conservation issues, particularly those regarding wetlands and swamps. He’s been photographing the Everglades for more than 10 years, creating images of unexpected importance. “Conventional wisdom was that wetlands were bad, or at least useless,” he says. “Now we are trying to undo that.”
By “we” Stone means the scientists, educators, and advocates who are striving to restore some of the natural flow of these living and life-giving waters, a charge for the last 30 years of The Everglades Foundation. This nonprofit organization is planning to complete its $75 million endowment campaign, ForEverglades, by the end of 2024; it has already raised $60 million. The goal of the campaign is to ensure the future financial stability of the foundation, which is currently involved in 68 restoration projects including the building of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee. Upon completion, the EAA Reservoir and its stormwater treatment area will be larger than the island of Manhattan at a combined 17,000 acres. In tandem with other restoration projects, the EAA Reservoir and the stormwater treatment area will reduce Lake Okeechobee’s polluted discharges into east and west coast estuaries by 55 percent and send 120 billion gallons of clean freshwater south every year.
For his part, Stone has provided 130 images to be published in a limited-edition book, titled ForEverglades, that will be presented to top benefactors of the campaign. Working to produce the book with Kathy Moran and David Griffin, past photography and design experts with National Geographic and other publications, Stone says his goal was to “take people to places they’ve never been.”
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