Jadav Payeng planted forest on Brahmaputra sandbar for 47 years
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Jadav Payeng began planting trees on a Brahmaputra River sandbar in 1979 after seeing animals die from heat without shade. His forest, named Molai Forest, now covers 550 hectares and hosts elephants, rhinos, and Bengal tigers. Payeng received the Padma Shri award in 2015 for his environmental work.
Key Facts
- Jadav Payeng started planting trees on a Brahmaputra River sandbar in 1979 after seeing animals die from heat without shade.
- The forest, named Molai Forest after Payeng's nickname, now covers 550 hectares, larger than New York's Central Park.
- The forest is home to elephants, Indian rhinoceroses, Bengal tigers, deer, monkeys, rabbits, and many bird species.
- Photographer Jitu Kalita documented Payeng's work, bringing it to public attention.
- Payeng received the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors, in 2015.
The Planting Effort
Jadav Payeng began planting trees on a Brahmaputra River sandbar in 1979 after seeing animals die from heat without shade. He started with 20 bamboo seedlings and gradually added native tree species while enriching the soil. Despite recurring river floods and erosion, Payeng continued planting, replacing dried seedlings to maintain soil moisture. As trees grew, shaded areas formed, erosion decreased, and natural vegetation developed rapidly.
Molai Forest
The forest, named Molai Forest after Payeng's nickname, now covers 550 hectares, larger than New York's Central Park. The restored vegetation brought wildlife back to the island. Today, the forest hosts elephants, Indian rhinoceroses, Bengal tigers, deer, monkeys, rabbits, and many bird species.
Recognition
Payeng's work went unnoticed for years until photographer Jitu Kalita documented the area. In 2015, Payeng received the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors, for his environmental contributions. He is internationally known as the 'Forest Man of India'.
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Jadav Payeng planted forest on Brahmaputra sandbar for 47 years
