This is Assam's first man-made forest

Jadav Payeng popularly known as the forest man of India is a native of Majuli in Assam. He grew a forest spread across 1,360 Acres

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From 1979, Payeng continued to play sapling and turned the patch of land which has become a river island due to soil erosion into a thriving forest

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It is a home to tigers, rhinos, over 100 deer and rabbits, monkeys and several varities of birds including vultures

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In 1979 he came across several dead snakes scattered along the sandy banks of the island, which had died of exposure to excess heat

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The shocking sight left him wondering if humans could also face the same fate

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Then elderly tribals told him that he could plant bamboos, which he started doing along the coast

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Payeng joined the experimental forestation drive of Assam and even after everyone left he stayed back.

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Today, nearly 40 years later the Mola’r haabi (Mola’s forest), which is named after Payeng is spread across 1,390 acres.

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