In a world where humans don't always seem to value our struggling
environment, it's inspiring to see that even one person can make a sizable
difference.
Jadav Payeng grew up on Majuli Island on the Brahmaputra River in Assam,
India.
Once upon a time, it was an oasis, completely covered by dense forests. But
as people cut down the island's trees for their own profit, much of its
wildlife was destroyed.
Then 37 years ago, Jadav decided he had to do something about it. So in
1979, he planted his first tree at a fateful spot—an activity he has continued
to this day.
Now, he has turned an area of the island almost twice as large as New York
City's Central Park into a lush forest. It's a true tropical paradise, and as
the vegetation came back, so did the animals.
A herd of 115 elephants, as well as many rhinos, deer, and tigers call the
island home now.
Much of Majuli Island once consisted of barren sandbars that were prone to
erosion. But thanks to Jadav's tree-planting efforts, a large swath of it has
been transformed into a lush forest.
According to Jadav, returning the island's natural beauty was like a dream.
But his driving force was to bring back plants and animals to the island.
Thanks to Jadav, 550 hectares of land that used to be sandbars are now
forested and provide a home for elephants, deer, and tigers.
The film "Forest man," about Jadav's life work, was awarded the
best documentary at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Watch the trailer here:
Is there anyone who deserves more respect and praise than
Jadav?
Please share Jadev's story if you also want people to know
that they too can make a difference!
This post was republished from en.newsner.com You can
find the original post here.