Bhubaneswar: Protected areas and wildlife sanctuaries have emerged as a crucial line of defence for Odisha’s wildlife and their habitats amid growing environmental pressures and climate change. Restoration of degraded forests, strengthening conservation measures and greater participation of local communities are essential to create new possibilities for biodiversity revival, speakers said at a special session during the Earth Again Conference 2026, organised by the Sambad Group, on Friday.

The session titled ‘Sanctuaries and Conservation’ brought together senior forest and wildlife officials associated with three of Odisha’s major ecosystems—Similipal, Debrigarh and Chilika.

Chilika DFO Amlan Nayak, Hirakud DFO Anshu Pragyan Das and Similipal RCCF Prakash Chand Goginani shared their experiences and views on wildlife conservation, habitat protection and community participation. The session was moderated by Dr Medha Nayak of NIT Rourkela.

Goginani said Similipal, spread over around 2,750 sq km in Mayurbhanj district, had recorded an 18 per cent increase in its tiger population over four years. However, he stressed that eliminating poaching remained one of the biggest challenges to further increasing the tiger population.

“Zero poaching is essential for further growth in the tiger population,” he said, underlining the need for stronger protection measures.

Speaking about Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, DFO Anshu Pragyan Das said the sanctuary covers around 353 sq km across Sambalpur and Bargarh districts and is adjacent to the approximately 700-sq-km Hirakud Reservoir.

She highlighted the critical role of local communities in protecting the sanctuary, noting that around 100 to 150 villages are dependent on the area and that most local residents rely on agriculture for their livelihoods.

To reduce pressure on the sanctuary, around 400 families were relocated, while efforts are being made to provide them with alternative livelihood opportunities with the support of local NGOs and elected representatives.

Eco-tourism has also emerged as an important source of livelihood, with more than 150 local people engaged in various activities. Around 40 per cent of those employed are women, she said.

Das added that the initiative has also helped bring former hunters into alternative livelihoods. Some people who had earlier faced cases related to hunting are now involved in eco-tourism and other activities, contributing directly or indirectly to the protection of the sanctuary.

“Local communities have been contributing to conservation for years. Their involvement is therefore critical for the long-term protection of the sanctuary,” she said.

Chilika DFO Amlan Nayak said the Chilika Lake spans around 1,100 sq km, with Nalabana designated as a bird sanctuary. Given the scale of the ecosystem and the number of people dependent on it, conservation efforts must involve local communities, he said.

More than two lakh fisherfolk depend on the Chilika ecosystem for their livelihoods. During the last bird census, more than 11 lakh birds belonging to 196 species were recorded in the lake.

Chilika is also home to the largest population of Irrawaddy dolphins in the region, making conservation of its ecosystem particularly important. Several government departments are involved in protecting and managing the lake, Nayak said.

He also pointed to the problem of silt entering Chilika through rivers that flow into the lagoon. The accumulated sediment contributes to the gradual silting of parts of the lake. To address the issue, a detailed project report (DPR) has been prepared with the assistance of IIT, he said.

The discussions at the session underlined the need to balance wildlife protection with the livelihood needs of communities living around protected areas. Speakers emphasised that restoring ecological balance and ensuring peaceful coexistence between wildlife, people and their surrounding environment would be crucial for Odisha's conservation efforts in the face of climate and environmental pressures.