A world apart to the hectic trade route and tourist-crowded beaches of the Southeast Asian region are restless islets that most people are never aware of, Lucipara. The Lucipara Islands, in the very middle of the Banda Sea, within the enormous Maluku province in Indonesia, are one of the final frontiers of the sea in the region. The islands themselves are a secret treasure, both regarding their natural beauty and their cultural and abiotic meanings.
What are the locations of the Lucipara Islands?
Lucipara Islands are about 50 kilometers west of the Banda Islands. They are a part of the Central Maluku Regency of Indonesia. Their remote nature, which makes them hard to reach, has had its benefits since their beauty has been maintained and is pristine.
Most of the travelers may not have heard of the name of Lucipara, but to most of the maritime historians, to scuba divers and conservationists, these islands are a quiet secret.
A colonial monument is being ignored.
In olden days the Lucipara Islands were called in the colonial age, especially under the Dutch. The surrounding Banda Sea had been a hot bed of conflict because it was so much involved in the international spice trade.
Although Lucipara as a locality in itself was never the subject of conflict, it became the navigational reference point to the passing ships and a silent surveillance index in the colonial history of Southeast Asia.
British explorer and co-developer of the theory of natural selection Alfred Russel Wallace also noted these islands in his notes during his journey across the Malay Archipelago, even though he had a reason to avoid the islands of the peninsula that is currently called Malaysia.
Paradise at Paradise Under the Sea
Nowadays, Lucipara is a star with the most famous pearls of the ocean. There are some of the most brilliant coral reefs of Indonesia that surround the islands. Lucipara is a miracle land for divers and marine biologists. The coral structures here are mostly untapped by the tourist industry or any form of destructive fishing like blast fishing, which has left marks on other areas of Indonesia.
The seafloor is abuzz with fish life , which includes barracuda, reef sharks, parrotfish and colourful nudibranchs. Apt divers swim past deep walls and coral gardens in vivid hues and sea turtles glide on by. The visibility is as deep as 40 meters underwater because of the remoteness of the islands hence one gets an avatar into a living painting kind of experience with diving.
An Eco-Treasure that must be Guarded
Lucipara Islands are not immune to threats, although they are very isolated. The global problems that have gradually begun to manifest are climate change, the change in sea temperature, and plastic. Though the coral reefs remain healthy, researchers are alerting the general population about the dangers looming over such delicate ecosystems because of the lack of enough conservation methods in place.
There do not exist grand tourism installations or permanent residences in the islands, a reason which is an impediment as well as an advantage. It creates virtually no environmental impact since there is no infrastructure, but also little knowledge or active security is being put in place.
Indonesian-based marine conservation groups are now striving to have Lucipara encompassed in an overarching marine protected area (MPA) system. This would enable the continued existence of the biodiversity of the islands in the long term.
Potentiation of the Eco-Tourism in Lucipara
Lucipara provides an unusual chance to observe nature in its most natural state as a source of inspiration to fearless visitors. It is only approached by charter boat, generally in or out of Ambon or the Banda islands, and the voyage is a long one–in many cases requiring overnight passage.
It is worth giving up modern amenities, though, as tourists who come to the trip will find pristine beaches, sparkling waters and the sense of being unreachable.
Sustainable and small-scale eco-tourism may be the way forward in Lucipara- to provide livelihoods to local people and prevent exploitation of the environment without taking the strain on this delicate habitat.
Conclusion
The name Lucipara might dissolve into the background of world maps. Yet, to people who are aware of its existence, it symbolizes one of the few things remaining perfect: purity, solitude, pure magnificence of nature. There is much to lose, and, to stay more connected and crowded as the world is becoming, the Lucipara Islands offer a reminder of what is left to us and what to keep safe.
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