Since the 1970’s Majuli islander Jadav “Molai” Payeng, the “Forest Man“, has been planting trees in order to save his island. To date, he has single-handedly planted a forest larger than Central Park NYC. His forest has transformed what was once a barren wasteland, into a lush oasis.
The Molai Forest in Assam, India, which is named after Payeng is an unusual woodland of 1,360 acre/550 hectares.The forest is on a sandbar of the river Brahmaputra.
Payeng planted and tended trees for over 30 years until they accumulated into the Molai Forest. He made sure to plant a diverse roster of trees, including 300 hectares of bamboo.
Molai forest now houses tigers, rhinoceros, deer, and rabbits besides apes and several varieties of birds, including a large number of vultures. There are several thousand trees, including valcol, arjun, ejar, goldmohur, koroi, moj and himolu.
Humble yet passionate and philosophical about his work. Payeng takes us on a journey into his incredible forest.
Filmmaker William Douglas McMaster crowdfunded on IndieGogo to complete his short film, Forest Man.
You can see it in full on YouTube:
Source:Gizmodo
