Indonesian e-wallet DANA and Ant International, in partnership with Konservasi Indonesia, unveiled ‘Ocean Buddy’, an interactive in-app mini-program aimed at raising awareness and driving public participation in marine conservation. The initiative, announced at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, will be available to DANA’s 200 million users in Indonesia.
Inspired by Ant Forest, the project uses gamification to encourage long-term user engagement in conservation efforts, with an initial focus on protecting whale sharks along the southern coast of Java.
Digital technology for environmental advocacy
The Ocean Buddy initiative is part of DANA’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy, which focuses on building climate resilience through responsible action. As the world’s largest archipelagic state, Indonesia is home to the world’s largest population of whale sharks, a species that plays a critical role in maintaining global ecological balance. According to Konservasi Indonesia, whale shark populations across the Indo-Pacific have declined by up to 63 per cent over the last 75 years.
The project is the latest under ‘Programme Sirius’, Ant International’s flagship sustainability programme, where 13 global e-wallet leaders, including DANA, collaborate on making sustainability more accessible through digital innovation.
Vince Iswara, chief executive officer and co-founder of DANA Indonesia, said: “Environmental issues are becoming increasingly urgent. Now is the time for the fintech industry to play an active role in bringing forward technology that supports sustainability. Through the Ocean Buddy initiative, we want to prove that technological innovation is not only an engine for economic growth; it is also a powerful gateway to popular participation in protecting our marine and land ecosystems, to a sustainable as well as prosperous future for generations to come.”
Leiming Chen, chief sustainability officer at Ant International, added: “Ant International’s mission is to build inclusive, sustainable growth through innovation and open collaboration. We are thrilled to support industry leaders like DANA to achieve sustainability and growth goals for the world’s diverse communities. Through co-building innovative solutions and learning from each other, together we will be able to build a greener and more prosperous future from local to global.”
Translating online activity into offline conservation
Through the Ocean Buddy mini-program, DANA users’ everyday online activities are translated into offline conservation projects. The system uses a cumulative-score ranking and an ‘Impact Coins’ feature to fund initiatives such as first-response training for stranded marine mammals and the protection of whale shark habitats. All educational content within the Ocean Buddy program is verified by Konservasi Indonesia.
“The presence of whale sharks is closely tied to the health of Indonesia’s oceans,” explained Tinton Galih Yudhianto, director of partnership and communications at Konservasi Indonesia. “Konservasi Indonesia supports DANA through the Ocean Buddy program by sharing scientific knowledge while encouraging people to realize that simple actions can make a real contribution. With collective awareness and cross-sector collaboration, we believe that efforts to protect the oceans can become stronger and more sustainable.”
The partners plan to continue expanding Ocean Buddy’s coverage and partnership circle, as well as evolving new features to drive nationwide conservation advocacy and action.