West Papua

Introducing the world’s first-ever Conservation Province: Indonesia’s resource-rich West Papua, home to the archipelagic island chain Raja Ampat.

- Brianna Kovan

When John Weller first visited the Raja Ampat Islands 10 years ago, he’d come as a tourist, ready to scuba dive in one of the most biodiverse reef systems on the planet. The Southeast Asian archipelago is spoken of with awe among divers, due in part to its manta rays, seahorses, and more than 1,700 other species of fish. It’s one of the few places left where biodiversity is actually increasing. Weller knew he’d be back. “You can’t go there and see those reefs and not want to be part of the solution for protecting them,” says the Colorado filmmaker.