India’s leading forestry worker, Jadav Molai Payeng, who single handedly raised a forest sprawling over 550 hectares, is set to undertake a new mission in Mexico. Known as the Forest Man of India’, 62-year-old Payeng has signed an agreement with Fundacion Azteca, an NGO which aims to plant 7 million trees in Mexico.
Payeng will also play a leading role at environment summits to be organised by the NGO and share his experiences with the youth of Mexico. He will share his rich knowledge for three months every year from September, the months ideal for planting trees. To start his forest-building in Mexico, the Padma Shri awardee intends to plant areca and coconut trees.
Payeng is credited with converting a barren landscape in Majuli in Assam’s Jorhat district into a beautiful forest. He spent 30 years of his life planting around 40 million trees to create this man-made forest which locals named Molai Forest. The forest, on the river Brahmaputra, is known for its varied species of birds and wild animals. It houses Bengal tigers, Indian rhinoceros, and over 100 deer and rabbits, and is home to monkeys and several varieties of birds, including a large number of vultures.
Picture Credit : Google
