The Forest Man of India

Jadav, a farmer and father of three, lives in the remote northeastern Indian river island Majuli.  It is the largest river island in the world and experiences massive erosion due to yearly flooding.  Since 1917 the rate of erosion and land loss has accelerated and there is an imminent fear that the entire island will be gone in the next few decades. 

 Jadav’s environmental protection journey started one day when he was a teenager and encountered an experience that deeply touched and changed him forever. The incident happened in 1979 when he discovered a bunch of dead snakes piled on the sand. Later he learned that the snakes were killed by the scorching hot temperature because the area has no tree shade under which to take shelter.  

Saddened by the incident he had alerted the forest department about it, urging them to plant trees on the island. They told him nothing would grow in the sandy barren land. Instead of giving up, the carnage of the snakes gave Jadav a purpose that he pursued for 40 years. Hoping to create a habitat for the wildlife, Jadav started tree planting. He decided no living organisms should experience the same fate as those dead snakes. Since 1979, he has been planting trees every day. He has lost count of the number of trees he has planted. He has created an entirely different ecosystem in the middle of the barren island. 

At first, he started planting bamboo trees, then cotton and other kinds of trees. Currently, the forest is bigger than New York City’s Central Park. In an island of more than 150,000 residents, the barren land was abandoned, so he continued his tree planting on the empty land without any permission. His guiding principle was his tribe’s tradition of honoring nature. Jadav believes it is not him who did the planting alone, instead, it was nature itself that was part of the regeneration process. 

In 2008 the forest department officials were alerted that 115 elephants that damaged private properties have sheltered in Molai Forest. They were surprised to see the massive green forest in the middle of the island. Since then, they recognize Jadav’s effort and have been in close contact with him about protecting wildlife from poachers.  

Rhinos now live in the Molai forest as well as the king of the forest, the Bengal Tiger. 

Deer, vultures and numerous other species that were not present for decades have returned to the island because of Jadav Payeng’s efforts. 

Numerous news articles, a children’s book, and a Cannes Film Festival award winning documentary called “The Forest Man” all tell Jadav’s story.  For his work and accomplishment at Molai forest, Jadav has received various medals and awards. 

The most important was in 2015 when he was honored by the Indian government with the Padma Shri Award which is the fourth highest civilian award in India.  

The tree planting process over the past four decades was not a smooth operation. His biggest challenge was human beings, especially loggers and poachers. 

He also had other serious challenges. Over the years he has lost cows and buffaloes to tigers. Instead of anger, it delights him to see the wildlife crossing the shallow rivers towards his forest. 

Many villagers do not share his enthusiasm and understanding of the forest’s wildlife. He has worked with local universities, and the government to help educate people on the value and need for the forest and the animals that now live there.  

Jadav wants every young person to plant their own tree and to take care of it for 5 years. In that time, he believes that they will learn to appreciate the connection they have with that tree and the natural world.