Almost 40 Years Ago A 16-Year-Old Started Planting A Tree Every Day On A Remote Island, And Now It’s Unrecognizable
The largest river island in the world, Majuli, may disappear. Over the last 70 years, Majuli has shrunk by more than half and there are concerns it will be submerged in the next 20 years. The island is under constant threat due to the extensive soil erosion on its banks. The reason for this is thought to be the large embankments built in towns up the Brahmaputra river to protect them during the monsoon season which redirect the devastating fury of the river to the islet. Since 1991, over 35 villages have been washed away. And while Indian authorities are trying to figure out how to save the island, its life may have even been shorter if it wasn’t for one local environmental activist.
In 1979, Jadav Payeng, then 16, encountered a large number of snakes that had died due to excessive heat after floods washed them onto the tree-less sandbar. Then and there, Jadav made it his life’s mission to save Majuli from erosion by planting trees. Working tirelessly every day, he has planted 550 hectares of forest – larger than Central Park in New York City (340 hectares). That forest is now home to Bengal tigers, Indian rhinoceros, and even a herd of over 100 elephants regularly visit it every year. Continue scrolling to learn more about this capeless hero.
Jadav Payeng lives on the biggest river island in the world, Majuli
Image credits: Jitu Kalita
The island, however, is under constant threat due to the extensive soil erosion on its banks
Image credits: 101 India
Over the last 70 years, Majuli has shrunk by more than half and there are concerns it will be submerged in the next 20 years
But its life may have even been shorter if it wasn’t for Jadav
Image credits: William D McMaster
Everything started in 1979 when he was only 16 years old
Image credits: Theforestmanofindia
He encountered a large number of snakes that had died due to excessive heat after floods washed them onto the tree-less sandbar
Image credits: William D McMaster
There and then, Jadav made it his life’s mission to save Majuli from erosion by planting trees
Image credits: bijitdutta
And he has been doing it every day for the last 39 years
Image credits: bijitdutta
He has planted 550 hectares of forest – larger than Central Park in New York City (340 hectares)
Image credits: bijitdutta
And it has become home to many animals
Image credits: 101 India
Including Bengal tigers and Indian rhinoceros
Image credits: William D McMaster
Even a herd of over 100 elephants regularly visit it every year
Image credits: 101 India
The reason why Majuli is shrinking has a lot to do with the large embankments up the Brahmaputra river
Image credits: 101 India
People built them for protection from everything the monsoon season throws at them
Image credits: William D McMaster
But the embankments redirect the devastating fury of the river to the island
Image credits: William D McMaster
To learn more about the “Forest Man of India” and his fight, watch the short documentary below
Many people are already in awe of this capeless hero
this is just one man, one man making a difference. and what a difference. if 0.1% of the world could do this (that's 7.5million) imagine how much the whole world would change, the life it would bring back to the world.
In UK too busy building houses due to housing shortage. So getting rid of trees.
Load More Replies...a difference for better or for worst ... if ALL (let's say 51%) made a good action and the other don't actively pollute .... it's perhaps a dream that in a future not so far could be already to late.
Load More Replies...Really want to make a difference to the planet? No more foreign holidays by air or sea. Aviation pollution stands at 67% yet we tinker around with electric cars which merely moves pollution from street to power plants as they'll have to increase output. Output still mainly made by burning and causing toxic waste. Only use companies that provide green electricity from wind farms etc though there aren't enough yet to meet demand if we all did that tomorrow. Only buy local produce as shipping products is another major pollutant. Don't have more than two children. UK is building properties on green belt land. Current policy is to keep building the houses we need. Sooner or later saturation point will be reached. Infrastructure for water is not sufficient to keep pace with growing demands. Population needs better management. No travel for work if you can video conference instead. Harsh? Yes. Changes need to be BIG if we to really turn this problem around. Plant trees by all
Changes need to be big if we really do want to turn this problem around. Plant trees by all means but that in isolation isn't the answer. I realise this is extreme and not an overnight possibility. Job losses would be massive. Be an economic nightmare. The planet would be in a better state though.
Load More Replies...This was one necessary answer to one specific issue. Won't save the whole planet on its own.
Instead of letting a useless government take control, creating departments and sub-departments and creating a bunch of useless positions and red tape and wasting money he did it the right way and initiated a simple plan.
Trees are vital, every government should be aware of this, and do everything they can to plant as much as possible. It would help fix so many terrible situations.
Not always, hay fever was virtually unknown in japan, until after WWII they decided to plant massive amounts of western trees like cedar. Now they plan to try to cut down all these trees and replace them with low pollen tree types. People planting foreign invasive plants in their backyard like bamboo have unknowingly destroyed local ecosystems. There are rarely simple answers
Load More Replies...This man is the Indian version of the French story The Man Who Planted Trees, that was made into an animated film by Frédéric Back and the National Film Board of Canada. Back won an award for this film as well as others with environmental subjects.
THIS MAN IS WONDERFUL, HE HAD A VISION AND WITH DEDICATION AND DETERMINATION HIS VISION BECAME A REALITY IT WOULD BE A BLESSING IF MANY COULD DO THE SAME IN OTHER NEEDED AREAS. GOD BLESS HIM.
If everyone could do just one positive thing every day, can you imagine what a good place the world would be.
In my book, this incredibly kind and thoughtful gentleman is worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. If there was a world recognition for aiding the planet, it would go to him. His dedication, love for his self-assigned task and the beauty he created truly needs to be memorialized. This task is worthy of every child worldwide to see and learn what just one person can do. This is an event worthy of a book, documentary, and distribution to be viewed in every household on Earth.
"be the change you want to see in the world" best this one if you can! such a gorgeous and inspirational man
He is living Gandhi's quote, "be the change you want to see in the world."
One man that makes the difference! But have a look at Ecosia, because we can all make the difference
If we all just planted a tree a month, the world would be a better place. I was so pleased when one of the main things to recognise the Queens Jubilee was to plant a new forest. And now we have the Northern Forest project, also fabulous. But was this one man has achieved on his own is beyond words!
Welp. Now nobody can ever ever everrr say that just one person can’t make a difference or even change the world. The enormity of this is almost tough to comprehend and it was single handedly done by a normal dude who probably didn’t have any advantages. Just a regular guy. It’s actu kind of inspirational.
This man and the one who basically broke a mountain and made a bath that goes in it for his people and many other stories just make you wander what drives this peoples , is it love , will or is it an idea that a person dedicated himself for ? They make you question what is willpower and what fuel it ! ? This and more questions pop's into my head , that and huge respect for this man .
Good question! This is an insightful comment. Something different to think about.
Load More Replies...i have comment this before, but once more, when forest owner want to he orders every tree sone and plant in he's forest in Finland we have law that when you wnat to pollute destroy and be cruel you have right to do it your property, this would be tottally illegal in finland, police would be angry beat you up and jail you.
forest owner just ask the to do so so police do irrational sesless things, just because of capital says soething
Load More Replies...Good example for people saying "action of one person will not make a difference". Start first, maybe others will follow you.
When you tell someone that one person can't make a difference and then they go ahead and make a difference. XD
Why not? What kind of things would you like to do, atiQah?
Load More Replies...Lol this was a funny joke, people should appreciate it!
Load More Replies...Malala got shot in the head on purpose by a group of psychotic losers who didn’t want her to keep going to school. So she risked her life again and became an even bigger advocate for women in the Middle East and Asia, and for education. Then she opened her own schools and became an international symbol for human rights. YOU wouldn’t appreciate it because you don’t care about things unless you can see yourself in them or unless they impact you directly. To you, it doesn’t matter that people suffer in places like Pakistan or that some kids have to make a choice between being uneducated or being hunted. You don’t have to be a good person inside if you don’t want, but don’t be a liar and lie about what she did or what happened. You can acknowledge what happened and then just admit that you’re a s****y enough person to think it has no value.
Load More Replies...this is just one man, one man making a difference. and what a difference. if 0.1% of the world could do this (that's 7.5million) imagine how much the whole world would change, the life it would bring back to the world.
In UK too busy building houses due to housing shortage. So getting rid of trees.
Load More Replies...a difference for better or for worst ... if ALL (let's say 51%) made a good action and the other don't actively pollute .... it's perhaps a dream that in a future not so far could be already to late.
Load More Replies...Really want to make a difference to the planet? No more foreign holidays by air or sea. Aviation pollution stands at 67% yet we tinker around with electric cars which merely moves pollution from street to power plants as they'll have to increase output. Output still mainly made by burning and causing toxic waste. Only use companies that provide green electricity from wind farms etc though there aren't enough yet to meet demand if we all did that tomorrow. Only buy local produce as shipping products is another major pollutant. Don't have more than two children. UK is building properties on green belt land. Current policy is to keep building the houses we need. Sooner or later saturation point will be reached. Infrastructure for water is not sufficient to keep pace with growing demands. Population needs better management. No travel for work if you can video conference instead. Harsh? Yes. Changes need to be BIG if we to really turn this problem around. Plant trees by all
Changes need to be big if we really do want to turn this problem around. Plant trees by all means but that in isolation isn't the answer. I realise this is extreme and not an overnight possibility. Job losses would be massive. Be an economic nightmare. The planet would be in a better state though.
Load More Replies...This was one necessary answer to one specific issue. Won't save the whole planet on its own.
Instead of letting a useless government take control, creating departments and sub-departments and creating a bunch of useless positions and red tape and wasting money he did it the right way and initiated a simple plan.
Trees are vital, every government should be aware of this, and do everything they can to plant as much as possible. It would help fix so many terrible situations.
Not always, hay fever was virtually unknown in japan, until after WWII they decided to plant massive amounts of western trees like cedar. Now they plan to try to cut down all these trees and replace them with low pollen tree types. People planting foreign invasive plants in their backyard like bamboo have unknowingly destroyed local ecosystems. There are rarely simple answers
Load More Replies...This man is the Indian version of the French story The Man Who Planted Trees, that was made into an animated film by Frédéric Back and the National Film Board of Canada. Back won an award for this film as well as others with environmental subjects.
THIS MAN IS WONDERFUL, HE HAD A VISION AND WITH DEDICATION AND DETERMINATION HIS VISION BECAME A REALITY IT WOULD BE A BLESSING IF MANY COULD DO THE SAME IN OTHER NEEDED AREAS. GOD BLESS HIM.
If everyone could do just one positive thing every day, can you imagine what a good place the world would be.
In my book, this incredibly kind and thoughtful gentleman is worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. If there was a world recognition for aiding the planet, it would go to him. His dedication, love for his self-assigned task and the beauty he created truly needs to be memorialized. This task is worthy of every child worldwide to see and learn what just one person can do. This is an event worthy of a book, documentary, and distribution to be viewed in every household on Earth.
"be the change you want to see in the world" best this one if you can! such a gorgeous and inspirational man
He is living Gandhi's quote, "be the change you want to see in the world."
One man that makes the difference! But have a look at Ecosia, because we can all make the difference
If we all just planted a tree a month, the world would be a better place. I was so pleased when one of the main things to recognise the Queens Jubilee was to plant a new forest. And now we have the Northern Forest project, also fabulous. But was this one man has achieved on his own is beyond words!
Welp. Now nobody can ever ever everrr say that just one person can’t make a difference or even change the world. The enormity of this is almost tough to comprehend and it was single handedly done by a normal dude who probably didn’t have any advantages. Just a regular guy. It’s actu kind of inspirational.
This man and the one who basically broke a mountain and made a bath that goes in it for his people and many other stories just make you wander what drives this peoples , is it love , will or is it an idea that a person dedicated himself for ? They make you question what is willpower and what fuel it ! ? This and more questions pop's into my head , that and huge respect for this man .
Good question! This is an insightful comment. Something different to think about.
Load More Replies...i have comment this before, but once more, when forest owner want to he orders every tree sone and plant in he's forest in Finland we have law that when you wnat to pollute destroy and be cruel you have right to do it your property, this would be tottally illegal in finland, police would be angry beat you up and jail you.
forest owner just ask the to do so so police do irrational sesless things, just because of capital says soething
Load More Replies...Good example for people saying "action of one person will not make a difference". Start first, maybe others will follow you.
When you tell someone that one person can't make a difference and then they go ahead and make a difference. XD
Why not? What kind of things would you like to do, atiQah?
Load More Replies...Lol this was a funny joke, people should appreciate it!
Load More Replies...Malala got shot in the head on purpose by a group of psychotic losers who didn’t want her to keep going to school. So she risked her life again and became an even bigger advocate for women in the Middle East and Asia, and for education. Then she opened her own schools and became an international symbol for human rights. YOU wouldn’t appreciate it because you don’t care about things unless you can see yourself in them or unless they impact you directly. To you, it doesn’t matter that people suffer in places like Pakistan or that some kids have to make a choice between being uneducated or being hunted. You don’t have to be a good person inside if you don’t want, but don’t be a liar and lie about what she did or what happened. You can acknowledge what happened and then just admit that you’re a s****y enough person to think it has no value.
Load More Replies...
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