Environmentalists and locals fear plans for new tourism hubs will threaten wildlife and the natural beauty that is a major tourism draw for Indonesia's islands.
On a dirt path, forked yellow tongue darting from its mouth, a member of the world's largest lizard species lazes on an island in eastern Indonesia's Komodo National Park as tourists snap photos.
The predatory lizards, which can reach a length of 3 metres and weigh more than 135 kilograms, were recently classified as "endangered" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature list of threatened species. The construction includes an expanded ranger station, viewing platform, boat dock, toilets and other infrastructure.
Guy Debonnet, UNESCO's chief of its natural heritage unit, says the body is concerned with the proposals."This is definitely a project of concern because we feel that the impacts on the universal value [of the park] have not been properly evaluated."
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