Assam, Jan 22 (ANI): Situated along the Brahmaputra River, Jorhat district of Assam is home to the largest river island on earth, Majuli. Located along with a number of barren sandbars, the area was once heavily eroded due to frequent floods. However, with the individual effort of Jadav Payeng, there is now 1,400 acres of lush forest in the area. Since 1979, Payeng has been single-handedly planting and nurturing various species of trees, including vast expanses of bamboo groves. The vast forest is now home to a variety of wildlife species including the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger and a number of migratory birds. Payeng lives in a small hut in the forest along with his family and survives by selling milk. His work has received much appreciation across the country and he was named as the 'Forest Man of India' by the Jawaharlal Nehru University. Honoring his work, the Assam government also named the forest Mulai kathoni bar, after his nickname.
