Bhubaneswar/Sambalpur, April 5 – Community-driven ecotourism initiatives at Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary (DWS) and Hirakud Wetland have proven to be highly successful, generating a remarkable ₹5.11 crore in revenue during the 2024-25 financial year. The success of these initiatives is largely attributed to the dedication and hard work of local communities, who have effectively managed ecotourism activities, catering to 85,000 tourists.
According to Anshu Pragyan Das, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), the ecotourism sites welcomed tourists from across the globe, including visitors from 22 states of India, the US, the UK, and Europe. This marked a 40% increase in tourist footfall compared to the previous year. The revenue generated from tourism has been reinvested in the local communities to foster sustainable development, including village development, capacity building, and income generation.
The initiative has also created significant employment opportunities, with 85 families benefiting from the ecotourism efforts. Various sectors, including tour operators, hospitality, and local handicraft industries, have seen growth. A key achievement of this initiative has been the empowerment of women. Margaret Baru, the first female safari driver, and Sangeeta Sikra, the first female eco-guide in the state, have taken pioneering roles, inspiring others to join the industry.
DWS has become a prominent wildlife destination, offering tourists sightings of Indian bison, leopards, bears, and over 320 species of birds. Meanwhile, Hirakud Wetland has gained recognition as Odisha’s second-largest wintering ground for migratory birds, hosting 3.77 lakh migratory birds from 122 species.
To accommodate the surge in tourist traffic, the management has introduced a ‘Jungle Safari Etiquette’ — Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for guides, safari drivers, and visitors, set to be implemented from April 1, 2025.
The sanctuary’s landscape, which includes a 7% meadow area, supports a self-sustaining ecosystem and promotes biodiversity, showing how ecotourism can thrive while contributing to conservation and local economic development. This model of community-led ecotourism showcases the potential for combining sustainable tourism with conservation and community empowerment, leading to both environmental and social benefits.
Through this successful initiative, the region has demonstrated the power of collaboration between local communities and environmental conservation efforts, creating a sustainable model for the future.