Bhubaneswar, May 21: Amitabh Kant, India’s G-20 Sherpa, visited the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary today and hailed it as the finest ecotourism destination in the country.
During his visit, Kant engaged with members of the Debrigarh Ecotourism community and praised the sustainable ecotourism model in place. The model currently supports the livelihoods of 85 forest-dependent families who are actively involved in a range of tourism-related activities. These include jungle safaris, cruises on the Hirakud reservoir, trekking, hiking, kayaking, wildlife storytelling sessions, birdwatching, and more.
To accommodate visitors, Debrigarh offers 20 tourist cottages, including six unique stargazing rooms with glass roofs. Each community member working in the ecotourism sector earns approximately ₹13,000 to ₹15,000 per month. Women make up 40% of the workforce, with roles such as lady safari drivers and ecoguides further highlighting inclusive employment practices.
Wildlife sightings in Debrigarh Sanctuary are frequent and remarkable, thanks to the complete relocation of villages from within the sanctuary, which has eliminated human-wildlife conflict. Scientific habitat management has significantly boosted wildlife populations, with tourists regularly spotting large herds of Indian bison, as well as sambar, deer, and bears.
The sanctuary also boasts 18 community-operated cruise boats on the Hirakud reservoir and a bamboo-and-palm tree island café. Other community-managed attractions include the Govindpur Birds Village, Dhodrokusum Green Village, and the Veer Surendra Sai Memorial. In a unique initiative, some former poachers have been rehabilitated and employed as ecoguides.
In the financial year 2024–25, Debrigarh Ecotourism generated its highest-ever revenue of ₹5.11 crore. As per ecotourism guidelines, 35% of this revenue is distributed as wages among local community members, 25% covers recurring expenses, 10% is allocated to infrastructure development, another 10% to village development, and the remaining 20% goes to the Corpus Fund of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) for training and capacity building. Significantly, 100% of the revenue is reinvested into the community, making them the primary stakeholders in the ecotourism initiative.
This community-driven model has not only provided sustainable livelihoods but also fostered a deep sense of ownership and responsibility among locals toward forest and wildlife conservation. As a result, Debrigarh has emerged as a shining example of how ecotourism can empower communities while protecting natural ecosystems.
