Journal of Global Ecology and Environment

This study formulates an integrated and phase-wise framework for sustainable ecotourism development in Jhargram District, West Bengal, India, by synthesising geospatial modelling with participatory governance. The research addresses the persistent gap between planning and implementation in tribal-forest landscapes through a mixed-method approach. A multi-criteria decision-making model using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Weighted Overlay    Analysis (WOA) in ArcGIS was applied to ten thematic layers derived from multi-source geospatial data. Primary field surveys (n = 415) and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques were conducted to assess community perception, livelihood potential, and governance feasibility. The AHP model achieved strong consistency (CR = 0.027), ensuring methodological reliability. The results categorise the district into five suitability zones, identifying Binpur-II block as the most promising region. Building upon macro-level  suitability mapping, a three-tier micro-zoning framework (Core, Ecotourism, and Buffer Zones) is proposed to regulate carrying capacity and conserve biodiversity. The institutionalisation of Village Ecotourism Committees (VECs) is suggested to ensure decentralized decision-making and equitable benefit-sharing. The proposed three-phase development strategy, from site preparation and community mobilisation to eco-friendly infrastructure and diversification into agro-tourism, handicraft tourism, and wellness initiatives, provides a scalable model for balancing ecological resilience with sustainable livelihood generation in tribal-forest regions.