Um Island is in the administrative area of the village of Malaumkarta, Makbon district, Sorong district, Southwest Papua. This island is about 36 kilometers from Domine Eduard Osok airport, Sorong City.

To reach Um Island, the trip can be reached by using two-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicles with a travel time of approximately one hour.

Arriving at the village of Malaumkarta, the next trip can only be reached by using a motor boat. The sea trip from the Malaumkarta village pier to Um island takes about 5 minutes.

Um Island has become a busy tourist spot in recent years. Not without reason, because the scenery around the island is still natural and the beauty of beaches with white sand and clear water, as well as thousands of bats hanging from trees during the day are exotic sights that invite admiration.

On the other hand, at night the island which is located in Dore Bay is also a resting place for thousands of seagulls, as well as a turtle nesting site in certain seasons, namely February to August every year.

Apart from that, Um Island is also inhabited by several other animals such as Maleo birds, monitor lizards and butterflies. The plants on Um Island are dominated by large trees such as Cemara, Merbau and Ketapang.

Likewise with the underwater scenery which has its own charm for visitors to enjoy.

However, the condition of Um island has changed from time to time. A number of large trees on the south coast of the island were found uprooted in mid-2020. three large trees and a number of other small trees were also found uprooted in the same location this year.

The fall of trees on Um Island is known to have occurred since the 2000s. The fallen tree is strongly suspected of being eroded by sea water (abrasion).

This assumption is strengthened by the geographical conditions in the south of Um Island where there is a cavity between the land and the shoreline. The roots of the trees seem to hang down.

Likewise with the beach area which has experienced a reduction. According to information from a number of native residents of the village, the current condition of the beach when the sea water recedes does not look like before, before the 2000s.

Based on a study conducted by the Sorong Coastal and Marine Resources Management Workshop (LPSPL), the area of Um Island in 2013 was approximately 4 hectares.

As a result of rising sea levels as high as 4.5 millimeters, the area of Um Island is known to have decreased by 0.91 hectares in the period 2009 to 2013 due to abrasion.

In contrast, the area of Um Island actually increased by 0.31 hectares in the period 2013 to 2017 due to accretion.

The phenomenon of changes in island area occurs due to changes in current patterns and rising sea levels as a result of climate change.

Although there are abrasion and accretion phenomena, it can be concluded that there is an average reduction of the island's area of 725 square meters each year.

Therefore, Um Island is expected to disappear in 2077 due to erosion.

This condition will greatly impact the surrounding community. As one of the busiest tourist attractions, especially during holidays, Um Island brings economic benefits to the surrounding village community.

There are 15 motorboat services for crossing from the Malaumkarta village pier to Um Island. There are also 10 villagers who become tour guides.

If Um Island is completely eroded by abrasion, the surrounding community, which has so far depended on the tourism sector, will certainly lose its potential income.

Not only that, the location of Um Island which is in the bay makes it a barrier to sea waves that lead to residential areas on the coast of Malaumkarta Raya. Thus, if Um island is completely eroded by abrasion, the scope of potential damage will be more complex and disrupt the stability of the surrounding ecosystem.

The areas that will be affected include 4 villages, namely Swatut. Swatolo, Mibi and Malaumkarta. The four villages are located in the coastal area.

Efforts to save Um Island from being lost by abrasion have not been carried out much until now. LPSPL Sorong as one of the Technical Implementation Units of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia has transplanted coral reefs around the island's waters.

The transplant is an effort to save Um Island naturally because coral can act as a breakwater and current barrier to minimize abrasion.

The construction of talud is still under further study because in addition to the high cost, it also has the potential to disrupt the stability of the ecosystem and natural habitat of Um Island.

With the facts, predictions and rescue efforts above, the survival of Um Island is absolutely the responsibility of all parties, especially the local indigenous people because they are the ones who directly benefit from the existence of the island.


Interview :

TORIANUS KALAMI (Malaumkarta Villagers & Conservation Activists)

HENDRIK SOMBO (Sub-Coordinator of Utilization and Preservation officer LPSPL Sorong)