<p>Construction on an Indonesian tourism project dubbed "Jurassic Park" on social media will continue, the Southeast Asian country's environment ministry said on Thursday, despite UNESCO warnings the plans could have a negative environmental impact.</p>.<p>Work on a series of tourism projects in Indonesia's Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, began last year, sparking concerns about threats to the local economy and the fragile habitat of the park's namesake, the Komodo dragon.</p>.<p>Last month, officials from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) told a World Heritage Committee conference that the project required a new environmental impact assessment over illegal fishing concerns and the potential risk to the Komodo dragon's natural habitat.</p>.<p>"This project will proceed... it's been proven to have no impact," Wiratno, a senior official at Indonesia's environment ministry, told Reuters.</p>.<p>UNESCO officials told last month's meeting that they had requested an updated assessment from the Indonesian government but received no response. Wiratno said a new assessment was being drafted and could be sent in September.</p>.<p>It was not clear exactly what the project, centred on the island of Rinca, entails. Last year, the government said it was building a "premium tourism spot" on the island.</p>.<p>In a separate statement, Wiratno said the project mainly included renovation work on existing structures and did not pose any danger to the rare Komodo dragons.</p>.<p>Rima Melani Bilaut of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI), an environmental group, said the project could impact the local community, as well as disturb the dragons.</p>.<p>"We urge the government to develop tourism that's based on the people. There are people living there," she said.</p>.<p>Last year, social media users likened the project to one on a dinosaur island featured in the "Jurassic Park" films after photos of a dragon standing in front of a big vehicle were widely shared online.</p>.<p>Indonesia is home to around 3,100 Komodo dragons, according to government data. The unique lizards grow up to 3 metres (10 feet) long and have a yellow forked tongue.</p>
<p>Construction on an Indonesian tourism project dubbed "Jurassic Park" on social media will continue, the Southeast Asian country's environment ministry said on Thursday, despite UNESCO warnings the plans could have a negative environmental impact.</p>.<p>Work on a series of tourism projects in Indonesia's Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, began last year, sparking concerns about threats to the local economy and the fragile habitat of the park's namesake, the Komodo dragon.</p>.<p>Last month, officials from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) told a World Heritage Committee conference that the project required a new environmental impact assessment over illegal fishing concerns and the potential risk to the Komodo dragon's natural habitat.</p>.<p>"This project will proceed... it's been proven to have no impact," Wiratno, a senior official at Indonesia's environment ministry, told Reuters.</p>.<p>UNESCO officials told last month's meeting that they had requested an updated assessment from the Indonesian government but received no response. Wiratno said a new assessment was being drafted and could be sent in September.</p>.<p>It was not clear exactly what the project, centred on the island of Rinca, entails. Last year, the government said it was building a "premium tourism spot" on the island.</p>.<p>In a separate statement, Wiratno said the project mainly included renovation work on existing structures and did not pose any danger to the rare Komodo dragons.</p>.<p>Rima Melani Bilaut of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI), an environmental group, said the project could impact the local community, as well as disturb the dragons.</p>.<p>"We urge the government to develop tourism that's based on the people. There are people living there," she said.</p>.<p>Last year, social media users likened the project to one on a dinosaur island featured in the "Jurassic Park" films after photos of a dragon standing in front of a big vehicle were widely shared online.</p>.<p>Indonesia is home to around 3,100 Komodo dragons, according to government data. The unique lizards grow up to 3 metres (10 feet) long and have a yellow forked tongue.</p>