THIS THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS COMING UP, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE STILL MISSING AFTER FLASH FLOODING DEVASTATES THE NATION OF NEPAL.

WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NATION TUCKED AWAY IN THE HIMALAYAS AND HOW GLOBAL WARMING MIGHT HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN THE DISASTER.

CHANGES IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND INCLEMENT WEATHER ARE THREATENING HISTORY DEFINING MURALS.

BUT GORDA IS GETTING AHEAD OF ANY CHANGES TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE WORKS.

STAND THE TEST OF TIME.

AND AN ADVENTURE INTO THE HEART OF THE FLORIDA WILDLIFE.

MEET THE PHOTOGRAPHER WHO IS SOUNDING THE ALARM ON THE DIMINISHING HAVE A TASK FOR CYPRESS SWAMPS.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MORE THAN 1000 PEOPLE HAVE DIED AND THOUSANDS MORE ARE STILL MISSING FOLLOWING SEVERE FLASH FLOODING ON THE NEPAL.

CHINA BORDER.

A MELTING GLACIER IS BELIEVED TO HAVE COLLAPSED ONE WEEK AGO TRIGGERING A SURGE OF ROCK ICE AND MUD THAT STRETCHED FOR MILES WASHING AWAY VILLAGES AND LEAVING A PATH OF DESTRUCTION.

RESCUE WORKERS ARE THEY ARE AND THERE ARE RESCUE EFFORTS UNDER WAY AS NEARLY 4500 PEOPLE REMAIN UNACCOUNTED FOR.

>> JOINING US NOW FOR MORE ON THE DEADLY FLOODING IN NEPAL IS DOCTOR CINEMARK, SIR, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA WHO GREW UP IN CENTRAL NEPAL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> WHAT WAS IT LIKE GROWING UP IN THAT REGION?

>> IT WAS UP 6 P IS I GET UP THERE.

I AND IN MY ALL THE SCHOOL TO MY HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN THEY CAN TO GET MEN DO FOR MY HIGH STUDIES ATTENDING ANY OF US.

IT IS.

IT WAS.

YEAH, I HAVE ALL MEMORY ON THE FANTASTIC MEMORY AND EXPEDIENCE.

I STILL VISIT DAD.

MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE THERE.

SO EVERY TIME WHENEVER I CAN I GO BACK TO MY FAMILY'S.

THIS IS THIS IS MY PLACE.

WHEN I SPEND MY FROM NTV YEARS.

SO IDEALLY, KEEP GET BACK TO IT TO THE PLACE WHERE I AM, WHO I AM NOW.

>> I CAN'T IMAGINE ESPECIALLY HAVING IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS AND MANY EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS IN THAT AREA.

WHEN YOU FIRST SAW THESE IMAGES COMING THROUGH OF THIS JUST HORRIFIC TRAGEDY UNFOLD.

WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND?

>> I DO.

A STUDY HAS ITS ANNUAL IZZY MANAGEMENT FOR MY LEAVING.

BUT I HAVE SEEN MANY SAID THE TEAM IS IS THE MAGNITUDE OF DESTRUCTION.

BUT IT WAS BLEEDING ON THE LABEL.

WHEN I SAW THE LABEL OF CONSTRUCTION.

THAT'S HAPPENING.

SO I GOT IN FROM THROUGH THE TEXT THAT THAT THAT SOMEONE WAS WATCHING ON THE NEWS AND THEN THEY WANTED TO CHECK ME IN.

I WAS NOT AND THEN ONCE THEY STARTED A FACEBOOK.

AND LOOKING ALL THE TRYING TO FIND THE DETAILS THAN I CAN SEE THIS YEAR AMOUNT OF DESTRUCTION HAPPENING.

THE LABOR LEFT A FLAG THAT CAME TO THE VALLEY FLOOR AND THAT IT CREATED ALL THE DISTRACTIONS.

SO IT WAS COMPLETE THE.

HARD TO DIGEST AND MY IT WAS HOW HEARTBREAKING.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED YOUR IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS.

THEY ARE OKAY.

>> YES, MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER IS IT IS SAFE.

BUT WE HAVE 7 ARE DOZENS FRIENDS AND RELATIVES, AT LEAST 2 MISSING.

SO THIS THE IT GUY OFF THIS GARDEN IS AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY HIGH HOPES SPACE CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE WHO GOT MARRIED.

BECAUSE WE HAVE MANY FAMILIES WHO TRY TO RESCUE THEM.

WE'LL TRY TO LEND THAT HANDS AND THEY COULD NOT MAKE IT.

SO THEY ARE.

THEY WOULD EXPECTING TO FIND THE DEAD BODIES TO BEGIN THAT HE CHOSE A SENSE.

THE MAGNITUDE IS SO MASSIVE.

THIS IS MONSOON SEASON AND THIS IS ALREADY BEING A WEEK.

SO WE HAVE A NO EXPECTATION THAT, THEY CAN GET THE NAME BODIES.

SO MOST OF THEM HAVE STARTED A BIT 3 TOOLS AND 80.

>> SO YOU BELIEVE THERE'S JUST ABSOLUTELY NO HOPE OF RECOVERY.

>> ESPECIALLY FOR THAT IS SKEWED PERSPECTIVE.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE LOST, NO, WE DON'T HAVE BECAUSE IT'S THAT'S NOT ATYPICAL FLOODING.

YOU GET INUNDATED WITH WITH A FLOOD WATERS.

THIS IS A HUMILIATING CHATTER.

IF YOU ADD THE WATER IS COMING WITH MASSIVE AMOUNT OF DAILY AND OTHER DESTRUCTIVE FORCE S. AND IT IS NOT HAPPENING AT THAT EITHER BANK.

IT IS NOT THE SITUATION.

WHAT ANYBODY IS FULL AND THEN THE OTHER MAN GOT INUNDATED.

THOSE SET OF THE MEN'S WET AT THE VALLEY FLOOR AND THE MAN WHO BOUGHT THEM AND 5 FROM THE DEALER.

THE DEALER OR WAS UNDER THE.

IT WAS DEEP.

IT WAS NOT A SALARY BLUR IN A BANK FOR SITUATIONS.

SEVERAL FEET DEEP WAS THE CONDITION OF THE DEALER.

NOW, THIS CITY WHERE?

OVERTOP THE BANK AND THEN TRAVEL SEVERAL 100 METER.

AND THOSE SETTLEMENTS WHEN OUR BOSS, YOU LEAHY IT, IT WOULD MOST OF THEM WOULD COMPLETELY.

BUT BY THE NAVY.

SO LOOKING AT THIS YEAR, THE AMOUNT OF DESTRUCTION WE ANYBODY LAST SCHOOL THAT THE MOST OF OUR WOULD MAKE IT.

WE HAD IT.

WE WILL FUND THAT.

WE COULD EVEN FIND THE BULL NAMED BODIES.

BUT WE STILL DO NOT HAVE OPENED UP.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE LEARNED FROM THIS TO TRY TO HELP PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN?

>> YES, WE CAN DEFINITELY LEARN FROM THIS EXPERIENCE THAT THIS EVENT BUT HE SURE TO MON MON DIDN'T HAZARD COMMUNITY IS.

THEY WEAR WHINING.

THIS KIND OF EVENT COULD HAPPEN, BUT WE WERE NOT A BIRD TO KIND OF MOVIES AND THE MAGNITUDE OFF OFF THE EVENT.

NOW IT IS HOW DESTRUCTIVE THESE EVERS CAN BE.

SO WE CAN DEFINITELY THE PLAN HOUR.

THE SETTLEMENTS.

IT'S BASIN ON THE THAT THE FLOOR ACCORDINGLY AS WELL AS WE CAN EAST.

ALL.

ALREADY WARNING SYSTEMS FOR THOSE ACCOUNTS BOUNDARY.

THIS YEAR'S, THEY SAY LAX AND THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE US WE CAN ONE.

WE NEED TO THE DOWN THE STREAM THAT SOMETHING IS SOMETHING BIG IS COMING DOWN SO THAT A FEW ASPECTS SPACE, ALI, ON THE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM TO COME IN.

YOU GET THAT THIS WITH THE WITH THE FOCUS NOW ON THE STAND AS WELL.

IT HAS LEARNING HOW TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT ON ANY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT.

>> DR OZ SHOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

AND DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO YOU IN THE LAW.

SO THAT SOUNDS LIKE MANY EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS AND LOVED ONES.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> COMING UP NEXT, THE SOUNDS OF THE ROARING 20'S ARE TAKING CENTER STAGE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WE WILL MEET THE DIRECTOR OF THE JAZZ OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

AND JAZZ MUSIC HAS HAD A BIT OF A RENAISSANCE DUE IN PART TO A YOUNGER AUDIENCE GAINING INTEREST IN THE GENRE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THE JAZZ LOVERS CAN LISTEN TO LIVE PERFORMANCES IN FORT MYERS FROM THE GULF COAST.

JAZZ COLLECTIVE WGCU ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL HAS MORE.

>> YOU CAN FIND JAZZ AND PLENTY OF PLACES.

SOUTH MARKS.

PAUL KEVIN SAYS IT'S NOTHING LIKE JAZZ.

YOU'LL HEAR WHEN HIS GULF COAST GAS COLLECTIVE TAKES THE STAGE AT THE MUSIC AND ARTS COMMUNITY CENTER >> IT'S NOT ANYWHERE IN FORT MYERS WHERE YOU CAN HEAR IT AND A CONCERT SETTING WHERE THE PURPOSES A LISTENING ROOM WHERE THE WHOLE POINT DOES EVERYONE SITTING TOGETHER HAVING THE SAME EXPERIENCE TOGETHER AND THAT JUST CREATES A A SHARED ENERGY THAT YOU CAN'T GET IN THE BAR.

>> GAVIN FOUNDED THE JAZZ COLLECTIVE IN 2021.

DURING COVID.

>> AND SO WE BRING THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF JAZZ AND PLAY ALL THE WAY FROM DUKE ELLINGTON AND COUNT BASIE.

THE OSCAR PETERSON TRIO MILES DAVIS ALL THE WAY UP TO RIGHT NOW, A RECENTLY DECEASED LEGENDS AS THE MUSICAL WHEN SHORTER TODAY.

SO WE TRY TO BRING THE WHOLE HISTORY OF JAZZ.

AND SO THE AUDIENCE CAN.

>> GET THE WHOLE PICTURE.

THE HISTORY, GAVIN AND HIS BAND MATES AWARD-WINNING JAZZ PIANISTS ACT.

BARTHOLOMEW.

>> AND EMMY-NOMINATED A BRIGHT ELECTRIC BASSIST FGCU MUSIC.

PROFESSOR BRENDAN ROBERTSON.

>> DO NOT NECESSARILY PLAY LEGENDARY JAZZ ARTIST.

BEST KNOWN HITS.

>> IF WE'RE JUST PLAYING THE TOP 10 SONGS ON SPOTIFY PLAYLIST, YOU CAN FIND THAT ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, BUT 2 WITH MY ROLE AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR HERE, I WANT TO BRING A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.

I LOOK FOR MUSIC THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA HEAR EVERYWHERE ELSE THAT THAT'S STILL EMBLEMATIC OF THE ARTIST'S WORK.

BUT THIS STILL A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE THAT THESE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM GOT TO HAVE THAT NO ONE ELSE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO.

>> IT'S A DAUNTING QUEST THAT COMPELS GAVIN TO TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO EACH JAZZ.

ICONS CAN WORK.

AND THEIR LAST CONCERT.

THE COLLECTIVE FEATURE, THE MUSIC OF WAYNE SHORTER WHOS.

GRAMMY STUD CAREER SPANNED 6 DECADES.

JUST IN THE MUSIC IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE.

IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR ANY MUSICIAN BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS EARNED THE KIND OF NAME.

>> AND JAZZ WHERE I'M INTERESTED IN DOING A SHOW OF THE MUSIC.

THEY'VE GOT A LENGTHY CATALOG THAT PLAYED WITH INCREDIBLE MUSICIANS AND DONE INCREDIBLE THINGS IN MUSIC.

WHEN'S CATALOG?

I SPENT SOME TIME JUST LISTENING AND BEING CURIOUS AND ALSO LOOKING FOR MUSIC THAT I HADN'T HEARD.

>> FINDING THESE LESS PLAY DEEP CUTS IS JUST THE STARTING POINT.

WE BRING OUR OWN ENERGY.

WE BRING OUR OWN ARRANGEMENTS, WERE NOT GOING TO BE DOING THEM THE SAME WAY THAT WE'VE ALWAYS HEARD THEM.

THEY ALSO CREATE ORIGINAL MUSIC IN THE STYLE OF THE FEATURED MUSICIAN.

THAT IS ANOTHER.

>> INHERENTLY NECESSARY PART OF THE HISTORY OF JAZZ.

>> AND IT'S A PART OF THE HISTORY OF JAZZ THAT I THINK IS A NEGLECTED.

BUT WE DON'T NEGLECTED JUST ABOUT EVERY TIME THAT YOU COME AND HEAR A CONCERT WITH THE GULF COAST HAS COLLECTED.

YOU WILL HEAR ORIGINAL MUSIC.

AND I THINK THAT ADDS TO THE EXPERIENCE OF MUSIC MUSIC EXPERIENCE THAT YOU CANNOT FIND CAPITAL EMPLOYED AS DEEP DIVE PHILOSOPHY, A METICULOUS PREPARATION TO CURATE THE COLLECTIVES OCTOBER CONCERT.

>> THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK, A COMPILATION OF JAZZ STANDARDS INSPIRED BY BROADWAY MUSICALS AND HOLLYWOOD FILMS.

THESE JAZZ MUSICIANS WOULD TAKE THE CHORD PROGRESSIONS AND THE MELODIES FROM.

>> HIS BROADWAY TUNES.

THAT WILL COME FROM LIKE WEST SIDE STORY, GUYS AND DOLLS.

THEY WOULD TAKE THESE CORE CHANGES THAT WOULD TAKE THEM, KNOWS THE TURN IT INTO JETS.

THE MAKE IT SWING.

IF THAT DIDN'T SWING BEFORE THEY WILL RE HARMONIZE IT.

NO TRANSFORM IT INTO SOMETHING THAT'S ENTIRELY DIFFERENT.

>> AND DIFFERENT IS WHAT YOU GET AT A GULF COAST.

JAZZ COLLECTIVE CONCERT EVERY SINGLE TIME.

>> WE ARE NOW JOINED BY WGCU ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL.

>> AND TOM, SO THE COLLECTIVES NEXT CONCERT IS THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK.

WHAT MORE CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS?

>> THE NAME ITSELF IS REALLY INTRIGUING.

DON'T YOU AGREE?

I DO AGREE THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK ARE FIRST TO POP SONGS IN JAZZ STANDERS WRITTEN BY SUCH ESTEEM COMPOSERS AS IRVING BERLIN, GEORGE GERSHWIN COLE, PORTER RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN AND JEROME KERN BETWEEN THE 1920'S AND 60'S FOR BROADWAY, HOLLYWOOD AND TIN PAN ALLEY.

NOW THE MUSIC OF THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK OFFERED HOPE FOR BETTER DAYS DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION BUILT AROUND DURING 2 WORLD WARS HELPED BUILD SOCIAL BRIDGES WITHIN OUR CULTURE.

THERE'S NO SET SONG LAST AND ARTISTS RANGING FOR RINGO STARR AND LINDA RONSTADT TO TONY BENNETT, LADY GAGA HAVE COME UP WITH THEIR OWN TAKES ON THE GENRE.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHO PAUL GAVIN INCLUDES IN THE SEPTEMBER.

24 IS CONCERT.

>> IN THE 20'S THROUGH THE 60'S, THAT'S THE TIME WHEN NERO'S BECAME SO POPULAR.

>> COINCIDENTALLY THAT IT IS.

>> MURALS CAME IN VOGUE IN THIS COUNTRY DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

WHEN THE WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION HIRED MORE THAN 15,000 ARTISTS TO LIFT THE NATION'S SPIRITS.

THE PRESS RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRESS, BUSINESS DISTRICTS ARE USING EUROS TO TRANSFORM BUILDINGS AND ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS INTO HISTORIC AND CULTURAL LANDMARKS.

BUT BUILDINGS AND WALLS CAN BE COMPROMISED BY THE ELEMENTS, INCLUDING HURRICANES.

SO GORDA, WHICH HAS GIVEN ITSELF THE NICKNAME OF MURAL TOWN HAS DECIDED NOT TO PAINT MURALS ON BUILDINGS ANYMORE.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE GORDA, HISTORIC MURAL SOCIETY IS DOING INSTEAD.

KELLY IS PRESIDENT OF THE GORDA.

HISTORIC MURALS INSIDE.

SHE HAS MIRRORLESS KEYS GOODSON ON SPEED DIAL.

SHE CALLS HIM WHATEVER ONE OF THE SOCIETY'S MURALS FAILS.

SHE'S HAD TO CALL THEM A LOT.

THE SOCIETY HAS LOST TWO-THIRDS OF ITS MURALS OVER THE COURSE OF ITS 31 YEAR.

HISTORY.

>> WE'VE LOST 9 URALS 2 WALL ISSUES LIKE STUCCO FAILING OR WATER INTRUSION.

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WE'VE LOST.

ANOTHER 11 WHEN BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN TORN DOWN FOR EITHER HURT BECAUSE OF HURRICANES OR REDEVELOPMENT, LOSING A MURALS ABOUT SO MUCH MORE THAN THE ART.

>> OR THE MONEY, THE SOCIETY HAS SHELLED OUT AN ARTIST, THESE MATERIALS AND UPKEEP.

>> OUR MISSION IS TO ACTUALLY PRESERVE OUR LOCAL HISTORY THROUGH ART AND EDUCATION.

AND WE DO THAT WITH PUBLIC MURALS AND EACH OF YEAR-OLDS CAPTURES A SLICE OF OUR LOCAL HISTORY.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, THE SOCIETY COMMISSIONED A MURAL FOR THE SOUTH WALL OF THE STORE IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN 2014, IT'S DEDICATED TO THE LIFE AND TIMES OF WEALTHY BLACK LANDOWNER GEORGE BROWN WHO SOLD CHARLOTTE COUNTY, THE LAND FOR THE COURTHOUSE.

BUT WITHIN 2 YEARS, THE MURAL EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM.

>> RIGHT AFTER A RAINSTORM, I JUST WALKING DOWN THE SIDEWALK AND I LOOKED AND I SAW BUBBLES FORMING ON THE MURAL AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT IT WAS IN HERE.

THEY WERE FILLED WITH WATER.

BY THE TIME WE ACTUALLY REALIZE WHAT WAS GOING ON.

MOST OF THE MURAL HAD LIFTED FROM THE SURFACE.

>> AS A STOPGAP, THE MURAL SOCIETY TOOK A HIGH-RESOLUTION PHOTOGRAPH OF THE MURAL PRINTED ON VINYL WHICH THEY GLUE TO ALUMINUM PANELS.

BUT FINAL DOESN'T HOLD UP IN SOUTHWEST FAR AS LIGHT AND HUMIDITY.

SO CALLED GOODSON.

>> KEITH GOODSON AGREED TO REPAY THEM.

YOU'RE ALL FOR US ON YOUR CLASS.

AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE FINAL AND INSTALL A MURAL COSTLY.

NOW, ONCE AGAIN, HAVE A HAND-PAINTED MURAL.

>> BASICALLY, IT IS A VERY THIN TYPE OF THAT.

AN ALMOST MATERIAL THAT WHEN WE PAINTED WE PRIME IT AND THEN WE HAD ON TOP OF THAT PRIMER, GOODSON COULD HAVE GLUED HIS MURAL ON THE WALL.

BUT IN GORDA, THAT'S NOT A GREAT OPTION.

>> THE MAJORITY OF OUR BUILDINGS HERE IN TOWN OR OLDER, 50 PLUS YEARS.

SO WE'RE ON SANDY SOIL.

THEY SETTLED A CRACK.

WE END UP HAVING ISSUES WITH MURALS A LOT.

>> INSTEAD, GOODSON ATTACHED HIS RURAL CLOCK TO ALUMINUM PANELS WITH THE GEL THAT HARDENS INTO A PROTECTIVE TILE LIKE THE NEW YEAR.

IT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE.

>> MESHES WITH THE SURFACE, IT'S SORT OF LIKE THE PAIN BECOMES NOW ONE, WHAT THAT SURFACE AND PRETTY MUCH INDESTRUCTIBLE.

IT'S AMAZING.

>> GOODSON HAS USED MURAL CLOTH ON 8 OF THE SOCIETY'S MURALS EARLY-ON.

HE IN THE SOCIETY'S FABRICATOR BOWL TO THE ALUMINUM PANELS TO THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING OR OTHER WALL.

NOW THEY USE CRUISE THAT ENABLE THE MURAL SOCIETY TO REMOVE THE MURAL IN THE EVENT OF A MAJOR STORM.

>> SO WE THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE POSITIVES WHERE WE COULD SAY, WOW, WE HAVE THESE PANEL.

WE CAN REMOVE THE MUD FOR HURRICANES COMING ACTUALLY FOR THE PAST SEVERAL HURRICANES.

WE HAVEN'T REMOVED THEM AND THEY'VE ACTUALLY FARED BETTER IN SOME CASES THAN THE BUILDING THEMSELVES.

>> THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO 3 MURALS ON THE GORDA BOAT CLUB BUILDING IN GILCHRIST PARK.

>> THE STORM SURGE WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT ACTUALLY BREACHED ALL THE WINDOWS AND THE DOORS OF THE BUILDING AND WASH ALL THE CONTENTS OUT INTO THE HARBOR, INCLUDING EVEN DISHES.

THE MURAL WOULD HAVE BEEN AT LEAST HALFWAY UNDERWATER.

IT CAME THROUGH FINE.

THERE WAS NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER.

IT HAD TO WIPE IT DOWN AND SOME DIRT ON IT.

>> IT'S ALSO IMPERATIVE TO HAVE THAT OPTION.

SHOULD THE BUILDING BE COMPROMISED BY FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OR OTHER EVENTS?

>> WE DECIDED ALL OUR FUTURE MURALS.

WE'RE GOING TO BE REMOVABLE ALUMINUM PANELS WITH MURAL CLOCK.

>> AND AND THAT'S PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN A TOWN LIKE OR WHERE YOU HAVE A LOT OF OLDER BUILDING, CORRECT FOR WDSU NEWS, TOM.

ALL.

>> FOR MORE ON THE ART HAPPENINGS AROUND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH TOM HALLS, EXTENSIVE REPORTING BY CHECKING OUT OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, THEY WERE ONCE A VITAL PART OF THE AMERICAN SOUTH.

NOW A LAST-DITCH EFFORT IS BEING MADE MORE THAN 100 YEARS AGO, 40 MILLION ACRES OF CYPRESS SWAMPS STRETCHED ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TODAY.

MERELY A FRACTION OF IT REMAINS.

A NEW BOOK CAPTURES STUNNING IMAGES OF THE DWINDLING NATURAL HABITATS.

WGCUS GULF COAST LIFE HOST.

MIKE KINIRY CAUGHT UP WITH THE AUTHOR AND AWARD WINNING CONSERVATION PHOTOGRAPHER MAX STONE.

>> THIS IS GULF COAST LIFE.

I'M MIKE KINIRY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

MAX TONE GREW UP IN AND AROUND.

GAINESVILLE ONCE BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF TIME OUTDOORS.

AND IN CYPRESS, SWAMPS IN NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA AS A KID GOT HIS FIRST CAMERA FILM.

SLR KNOW D IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THAT SENT HIM DOWN.

THE ROAD IS STILL ON TODAY.

AS WORK FOCUSES ON SWAMPS AND WETLANDS.

HE SAYS HE'S TRYING TO CHANGE PUBLIC OPINIONS TOWARDS THESE OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD AND MALIGNED ECOSYSTEMS.

HIS WAY TO COFFEE TABLE, BOOK EVERGLADES, AMERICA'S WETLAND WAS PUBLISHED IN 2014 AND NOW HIS NEW ALSO WEIGHTY BOOK IS CYPRUS.

THE LAST OLD GROWTH SWAMPS THAT COMES OUT NEXT MONTH.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ITS DAY.

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

MAC.

>> MY THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> IN THE PREFACE YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THE SWAMPS YOU GREW UP IN, WHICH SEEMS SO ANCIENT AND MAJESTIC AT THE TIME TURNED OUT TO BE KIND OF BABIES ARE AT LEAST NOT ALL THAT OLD RELATIVELY SPEAKING ONCE YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPERIENCE WITH WHAT A CYPRESS WANT COULD BE.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?

>> SURE.

I MEAN, ANYONE WHO'S BEEN AND A CYPRESS WALK PEN.

I'VE BEEN LOTS OF THEM IN PARTICULAR WHERE I GREW UP IN GAINESVILLE.

WE HAVE SWAMPS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND JUST BY THE WAY, THAT CYPRESS TREES, LOOK, THEY LOOK VERY OLD.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE CONTORTED AND THEY HAVE NEEDS THAT KIND OF THESE GOTHIC STRUCTURE SURROUNDING THEM DRAPED IN SPANISH MOSS AND BOWS.

AND THEY REALLY JUST LOOK LIKE PRIMEVAL ECOSYSTEMS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, AS A KID, YOU NEVER REALLY CONSIDER WHEN YOU'RE WALKING THROUGH.

THE WOODS ARE SLOGGING THROUGH THIS MALL.

THAT THAT SECONDARY OR TERTIARY GROWTH AND THAT IS, IN FACT, WHAT ALMOST ALL OF IT WAS BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF AND THE FAR, FAR, FAR MAJORITY, THE CYPRESS LEADERS AND SWAMPS ALL ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST WERE CLEARCUT.

HAVE ONE POINT.

THEY'RE HARVESTED FOR THEIR WOULD.

SO ALL OF IT, NEARLY ALL OF IT EXCEPT FOR WHAT IS HERE IN THIS BOOK.

IT WAS CLEAR CUT.

AND TIM BYRD TO MAKE WAY FOR PILINGS, DECKING SIGHTINGS, ROOF.

ALL THE OUTDOOR, A LUMBER THAT CYPRUS FOR THE 20TH CENTURY.

>> I GOT AN ACTUAL CHILL.

WHEN I READ THE CAPTION BINNUI BENEATH THE FIRST IMAGE THAT YOU HAVE RIGHT AFTER THE PREFACE.

SO IT'S I COUNTED IT UP.

IT'S 80 BY 80 SQUARE OF THESE LITTLE TINY, GREAT TREES.

EACH ONE REPRESENTS SOMETHING LIKE 10,000 ACRES AND THERE'S ONE LITTLE BLACK TREE DOWN IN THE CORNER AND THAT REPRESENTS OUT OF 6,400 TREES.

HOW MUCH IS LEFT OF WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE, WHICH IS JUST WHO CAME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR THAT GRAPHIC BECAUSE IT WAS VERY IMPACTFUL.

>> THANK YOU.

I DID.

AND MY HANNAH IS A BRILLIANT GRAPHIC DESIGNER MADE AND IT'S ABOUT TRYING TO PUT INTO CONTEXT WHAT WAS LOST AND WHAT IS LEFT NOW THAT GRAPHIC REPRESENTS THE.

THIS STATISTIC THAT THERE WAS ONCE AN ESTIMATED 40 MILLION ACRES OF OLD GROWTH, CYPRESS AND THE AMERICAN SOUTHEAST.

AND BY THE MID THAT 1930'S NIGHT BETWEEN 1930'S, 1950'S.

ALL BUT LESS THAN ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT IS LEFT.

SO JUST 10,000 TO 12,000 ACRES, ROUGHLY OF OLD GROWTH SWAP.

HER LEFT OUT OF THE 40 MILLION ACRES THAT ONCE WAS SO ABUNDANT IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH.

>> SO THE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN CORKSCREW SWAMP HERE IN COLLIER COUNTY AND FRANCIS BEELER BEIDLER.

>> FRANCES BEIDLER FOREST AND HARLEYVILLE SOUTH CAROLINA AND THEN KONG RE NATIONAL PARK IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

BLACK RIVER PRESERVE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

YOU WORKED IF I'VE GOT IT RIGHT OUT OF GRAD SCHOOL WHEN YOU'RE FIRST JOBS WAS AT FRANCIS BEIDLER FOREST RIGHT?

>> TRACK UNDERGRAD AND YES.

AND I WORKED AS A NATURALIST AT FRANCIS BEIDLER FOREST IN IS ACTUALLY MY VERY FIRST TIME SEEING AN OLD GROSS WALK AND IT'S WHERE THIS WHOLE PROJECT STARTED.

WHEN I GOT THERE AND YOU DIDN'T MISS MUCH LIKE CORKSCREW SWAMP.

THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL MILE AND 3 QUARTER BOARDWALK THAT WEAVES THROUGH THE ANCIENT CYPRESS GROVE.

AND I JUST NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.

I MEAN, IT IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN SECONDARY GROWTH AND TERTIARY GROWTH.

YOU HAVE CLEAN UNDERSTORY MASSIVE.

I MEAN, MASSIVE TREES AND JUST THESE REALLY BEAUTIFUL FLUTTERING WINGS OF PERSONA.

TERRY WARBLERS.

AND IT JUST FEELS OLD.

IT LOOKS OLD AND IT IS OLD.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT STARTED THIS WHOLE BOOK PROJECT.

AND IT TOOK SOME TIME ANOTHER DECADE FROM THAT TIME WHEN I STARTED WORKING IN EARNEST TO TRY AND IDENTIFY THE LAST OF THEIR POCKETS OF AL GROSS WALK.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

MACKEN ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DID TO PUT THIS BOOK TOGETHER.

>> I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

AND IF I COULD JUST SAY ONE LAST THING, I HOPE IF YOU GET THIS BOOK, I HOPE IT INSPIRES YOU TO GO OUT AND SEE THESE PLACES FOR YOURSELF BECAUSE THEY'RE TRULY, TRULY TREASURES OF THE AMERICAN SOUTH.

>> COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, GOING GREEN FOR EXPECTING MOTHERS, THE CAR SERVICE PROGRAM THAT'S PROVIDING FREE RIDES.

WELL, ALSO KEEPING A CONSCIOUS MIND ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.