Many people talk about conservation. For more than forty years, Shyamendra Singh has been proving it can pay its own way.
Shyamendra Singh is Chairman of GAMSME’s National Council on Eco-Tourism and Hospitality, a conservationist and responsible-tourism pioneer with over forty years of experience. A co-founder of Pugdundee Safaris, one of India’s most respected responsible-tourism companies, he has built nature-based enterprises that combine hospitality, biodiversity conservation, agroforestry and rural income across the forests of Central India. At GAMSME he leads the agenda for community-linked tourism and hospitality enterprises that create dignified rural employment while protecting fragile ecosystems.
Raised at the forest’s edge
Mr. Singh hails from Nagod in Madhya Pradesh, raised on a farm adjoining the rich forests of Central India. Those early years among wildlife, forests, farming systems and rural communities shaped a bond that would define his path. He was educated at Welham Preparatory School in Dehradun and Mayo College, Ajmer, before graduating from Bhopal. His first career spanned hospitality, sales and advertising, a grounding in people, communication and service that he would later carry back into the wilderness.
Building a model, not just a lodge
He established his first wildlife lodge in Panna, a region tied closely to his own journey, and went on to co-found Pugdundee Safaris. Across more than four decades he has shaped nature-based tourism that brings together hospitality, conservation awareness, local livelihoods and low-impact operations. His idea of eco-tourism reaches well beyond conventional wildlife tourism. Through carefully curated stays, guided interpretation, eco-trails and community-linked activities, he builds a deeper public understanding of forests, wildlife habitats, local culture and rural landscapes. The conviction underneath it all is simple and firm: tourism must support conservation, respect local communities and deliver real benefits to the people who live around protected areas.
Livelihoods at the heart of conservation
A firm believer in linking conservation to livelihoods, Mr. Singh has worked steadily with local communities to create dignified income. Through employment, training and skill-building at his lodges and associated initiatives, he has helped local youth and families build careers in hospitality, guiding, naturalist services, field operations and rural enterprise. Coming from a farming background, he also carries a deep interest in agroforestry and sustainable agriculture, promoting practices that improve soil health, encourage tree-based landscapes and reduce pressure on forests. His view is that conservation grows stronger when communities are active participants and direct beneficiaries, not bystanders.
At GAMSME
As Chairman of the National Council on Eco-Tourism and Hospitality, Shyamendra Singh anchors the association’s national agenda for sustainable, community-linked tourism. He guides GAMSME’s efforts to nurture enterprises that combine responsible hospitality, conservation and rural livelihood creation, helping position India’s eco-tourism and nature-based hospitality sector as a driver of both ecological stewardship and inclusive growth.