The farmer who has been planting trees every day since 1979: he has managed to create a 550-hectare forest
Molai Forest is a 550 hectare nature reserve in India, created by Jadav Molai Payeng, who planted trees for 40 years. The story of Jadav Molai Payeng, popularly known as the Forest Man of India, shows us how there is no small gesture when it comes to caring for the environment. His story begins in 1979, when after severe floods in the state of Assam, at just 16 years old, Payeng found hundreds of dead snakes on a sandbank of the Brahmaputra River, exposed to the heat due to the lack of shade.
He planted trees for 40 years. It was then that he decided to prevent soil erosion and provide shelter to the local fauna, beginning to plant bamboo and native trees every day. Over the years, that vegetation grew until it became the Molai forest, where hundreds of species such as elephants, Indian rhinos, Bengal tigers and all types of birds coexist today. A forest larger than Central Park Thus, with more than four decades of daily work, Molai managed to transform an arid islet into a forest of approximately 550 hectares with an area larger than that of Central Park in New York, which is equivalent to about 341 hectares. The story Molai became known when photographer and journalist Jitu Kalita discovered the forest in 2007 while documenting the island of Majuli. From then on he began to receive recognition of all kinds. In 2015 he was awarded the Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian distinctions awarded by the Government of India, turning his individual efforts into a global benchmark for reforestation and environmental conservation. He was also invited to speak about his experience in international forums, sharing his vision on conservation and the importance of restoring damaged ecosystems. Finally the forest was baptized with his nickname, in honor of those who fought for it every day. And despite the great attention received over the years. Despite the attention, Molai Payeng said that for him, planting trees is a daily responsibility, rather than a personal achievement.
