Bhubaneswar: The G-20 Sherpa, Amitabh Kant visited the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary and praised its community-led ecotourism model, calling it the best in India. During his visit, Kant interacted with community members and appreciated their efforts in generating livelihoods through various ecotourism activities.
The Debrigarh Ecotourism model allows 85 forest-dependent families to earn a living through activities such as jungle safaris, Hirakud cruises, trekking, hiking, kayaking, and bird watching. The sanctuary offers 20 cottages for night stays, including six stargazing rooms with glass roofs. Community members earn between ₹13,000 to ₹15,000 per month, with 40% of the workforce comprising women, including lady safari drivers and ecoguides.
The sanctuary has seen excellent wildlife sightings, thanks to the relocation of villages and effective habitat management. Tourists can spot Indian bisons, sambar, deer, and bears. The community-run ecotourism initiative has also led to the employment of former poachers as ecoguides.
In 2024-25, Debrigarh Ecotourism generated a record revenue of ₹5.11 crore. According to ecotourism guidelines, 35% of the revenue is shared among local communities as wages, 25% is used for recurring expenses, 10% for infrastructure development, 10% for village development, and 20% is contributed to the Corpus Fund of the PCCF Wildlife for training and capacity building.
The community-led ecotourism model has not only transformed the lives of forest-dependent communities but also strengthened wildlife conservation efforts. By giving local communities a stake in ecotourism, the initiative has promoted protection and conservation of the forest and wildlife. Kant’s visit highlighted the success of Debrigarh Ecotourism as a model for sustainable conservation and community development.
