25 Ways Nature Tells America’s Story
The Wetlands of the Gulf Coast
Selected by Ian Shive
The wetlands of the Gulf Coast are both a sanctuary and a shield—vast living landscapes where wildlife, culture, and the forces of nature have shaped one another for centuries. From the protected marshes of Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge to the disappearing bays and barrier islands beyond, these waters sustain millions of migrating birds, nourish fisheries that feed the nation, and absorb the force of storms before they reach coastal communities. Ancient migration routes still pass through these wetlands each year, carrying life across an entire continent, while Cajun and Indigenous traditions remain deeply tied to the rhythms of tide, river, and marsh. In many ways, the future of the Gulf Coast is a reminder that the health of people and the health of wild places have never been separate stories.
Shive is a photographer, filmmaker—including of the upcoming giant screen IMAX 3D film Into the Bayou—and the author of Refuge: America’s Wildest Places.

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