Man Creates Forest in India After Leaving Swiss Job
Why this is here: The Molai Forest spans approximately 550 hectares, a testament to decades of solitary work by one individual starting with a single act of planting trees.
Jadav Payeng transformed a barren sandbar in Assam, India, into a roughly 550-hectare forest. In 1979, Payeng began planting bamboo and saplings after witnessing the effects of flooding and animal deaths. He continued planting and tending trees for decades, creating what is now known as Molai Forest.
Government records show Payeng also contributed to plantation efforts across nearly 300 hectares on Majuli Island. The Assam Forest Department first learned of the forest in 2008 when elephants entered the area.
Payeng received the Padma Shri award in 2015 and was cited by the Prime Minister in 2021 for his conservation work. Britannica now recognizes him as a notable Indian conservationist. His work demonstrates how consistent, individual effort can reshape a landscape.