Emery has returned to the island of Onemobaa to realise a vast portfolio documenting the vibrant diversity of the Wakatobi National Park. Wakatobi is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in Southeast Sulawesi, established amongst others by Emery’s father. After over two decades of collaborative conservation efforts, Wakatobi today has the highest number of reef and fish species in the world. All images were taken within the bounds of the Wakatobi National Park and form part of an unpublished series of 100+ marine photographs.
The documentation of these uniquely rich habitats try to highlight the need for well-regulated, well-enforced marine protected areas which can provide significant ecological benefits, increase resilience to natural and anthropogenic disturbances, and allow for ecosystem recovery. Our oceans are the largest ecosystem on Earth, they feed us, regulate our climate, and generate most of the oxygen we breathe. We must support their protection.