“a tale of two marshes” illuminates the fragile beauty and hidden power of southeastern connecticut’s coastal saltwater marshes — not just in biodiversity, but in climate resilience.

this short video, created by planet forward mystic aquarium fellow dre pedemonte, follows the restoration of the dodge paddock beal preserve in stonington after decades of flooding and environmental stress, while also looking to the thriving ecosystem at nearby barn island as a model for what’s possible when conservation and community come together. with the support of mystic aquarium’s conservation and education team and local partners, the film shows how saltwater marsh stewardship is rooted in science, collaboration, and care for the future.

through interviews with experts, sweeping shots of tidal landscapes, and grounded storytelling, this video reveals marshes as more than scenic — as frontline defenders against sea-level rise. marshes are among earth’s most productive ecosystems, and coastal wetlands like saltwater marshes sequester carbon at rates often exceeding terrestrial forests. by storing carbon in waterlogged soils, they act as natural “carbon sinks” that slow atmospheric carbon dioxide accumulation.

more than a story of two places, “a tale of two marshes” reflects on the choices communities face in a changing climate — how to repair, how to protect, and how to imagine a sustainable future at the water’s edge.