Indonesia Partners With UNDP to Present Breathtaking Underwater Ecosytems in New Photo Book
Jakarta. The government, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, or UNDP, launched a tourism-oriented photography book in Jakarta on Friday (02/06) to highlight the natural beauty of Indonesia's coral reefs and ocean life.
The book, titled "The Magnificent Seven: Indonesia's Marine National Parks," was developed in a partnership between the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Ministry of Tourism and UNDP and presents the mystifying beauty of seven different marine parks in the country.
"It's incredible. [The book] displays unique marine life in waters across the archipelago," Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said recently.
The marine national parks featured in the book include waters near the Thousand Islands in Jakarta, the island of Karimun Jawa in Central Java, Wakatobi in Southeast Sulawesi, Takabonerate in South Sulawesi, Bunaken in North Sulawesi, Togian in Central Sulawesi and Cendrawasih Bay in Papua.
"I believe whoever encounters this book will be inspired to seek out our marine life," Arief said. "The photos featured have been captured by some of our most experienced photographers."
The United Nations also played a key role in producing the book to highlight Indonesia's precious underwater ecosystems and to stress that everyone, including the government and ordinary tourists alike, should do their part to preserve the coral.
"This book was developed for six months at seven of Indonesia's top marine spots," said Christophe Bahuet, a representative of UNDP stationed in the country.
"Those beautiful ecosystems should be preserved for the community [...] we must encourage sustainable tourism development."
Scuba Diving Magazine awarded the Southeast Asian country for having the most scenic underwater wildlife in the Asia-Pacific region in 2011, while Dive Magazine named five areas in Indonesia, including Raja Ampat in West Papua and Lembongan Island in Bali, in its World's Top Diving Destinations for 2017.
CNN also awarded Raja Ampat as the best snorkeling destination in the world earlier this year.
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