RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - MonMang (Monitoring Mangrove), an application developed by Indonesia's National Innovation and Research Agency (BRIN), continues to expand its use as a data-based ecosystem monitoring tool.

To date, the application has been used in 27 countries and installed on more than 1,500 mobile devices.

To meet the needs of an increasingly broad user base, BRIN and Blue Ventures Indonesia are developing MonMang version 3.0 to make it more adaptive for mangrove management at the global level.

Head of BRIN’s Biota Systems Research Center, Decky Indrawan Junaedi, said Indonesia holds a strategic position in global mangrove management. As one of the world’s mangrove hotspots, Indonesia needs a monitoring system capable of producing accurate data to support evidence-based policymaking.

“Monitoring mangroves really requires evidence-based policymaking. Reliable and accurate data are essential for sustainable management, restoration, and Indonesia’s environmental diplomacy at the global level,” Decky said at BRIN Thamrin in Jakarta on Thursday, July 30, 2026.

He said MonMang has been developed since 2019 as a digital innovation that connects research needs with public participation. Through the mobile-based application, users can collect, record, and process mangrove condition data more quickly, producing information on ecosystem health while also helping identify areas with restoration potential.

Decky explained that MonMang also adopts a citizen scientist approach, enabling the public to participate directly in the collection of scientific data in the field.

“MonMang is a form of mobile-based digital technology innovation designed to facilitate citizen scientists in the gadget era. At BRIN, we are very open to collaboration to improve data quality and expand the scope of mangrove monitoring in Indonesia,” he said.

MonMang’s use is no longer limited to Indonesia. Through collaboration with various national and international partners, the application has been used in 27 countries. BRIN researchers were even invited to Fiji to provide training for its users.

BRIN–Blue Ventures Indonesia research collaboration coordinator, Udhi Eko Hernawan, said the achievement demonstrates the success of BRIN’s innovation, which is able to meet mangrove monitoring needs in various parts of the world.

“MonMang is already known in various countries, and our researchers were even invited to Fiji to train users there. Through this collaboration, we want this homegrown application to be further optimized by ministries and institutions within the country,” said Udhi.

In Indonesia, the application has been used to support community-based mangrove management.

According to Blue Ventures Indonesia representative, Miftahul Khair, local partners use MonMang to monitor 2,523 hectares of mangrove area in Sinaka Village, Mentawai, West Sumatra, and 273 hectares in Sahari, Maluku.

Monitoring results showed that the mangroves were in very good to moderate condition, and the information has been used as one of the bases for community-based fisheries management.

“Through the use of MonMang, our partners in Mentawai and Maluku were able to identify thousands of hectares of mangroves in very good to moderate condition. This data is directly used by the community as a basis for community-based fisheries management,” Miftahul said.

To increase its use, BRIN is now developing MonMang 3.0 by gathering direct input from users. The development focuses on improving mapping features, mangrove species identification, field data management, and expanding language options.

According to Udhi, in addition to Indonesian and English, MonMang 3.0 is also being directed to support French and potentially accommodate various local languages according to user needs.

“The digital world is moving very fast, so MonMang 3.0 needs input from field users to identify priority needs. These needs range from expanding mapping features and species identification to adding languages such as French and local languages,” said Udhi.

Through this development, BRIN hopes MonMang will further strengthen its position as a data-driven mangrove monitoring platform. This is expected to support researchers’ work while also expanding public participation in the collection of scientific data.

Cross-institutional, community, and international collaboration is expected to further strengthen the use of Indonesian research outputs to support sustainable mangrove ecosystem management. (Annaila Azzahra)