A film by Will McMaster.

It has been said that the single most powerful thing one can do to combat climate change and promote peace is to plant a tree. Jadev Payeng has been doing just that since the 1970's on the once-barren sandbar on the banks of the Brahmaputra River in Assam, India. Over 40 years later, the forest he's planted is now larger than New York City's Central Park and is home to several thousand varieties of trees as well as an amazing diversity of wildlife, including rhino, elephants, and even tigers.

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  • ulli panday

    beautiful story. a great man had a super idea.. politicans can learn from this man. not only talking — do something.

  • vijay gajjar

    This is an extraordinary person doing fantastic work, voluntarily. It is inspirational in that it shows ordinary people can do much to arrest and reverse the negative impact of climate change and the causes thereof.

  • Sidonie Grace

    So simple, yet so impactful. Wonderful, amazing and empowering! It's remarkable what one person can accomplish out of love and dedication! Kudos!!!

  • Lori

    The innocence of common sense. Beautiful man, beautiful story.

  • Grace

    Australia is a dry land and farmers have stripped the land bare. We need to plant trees too. This is truly inspiring!

  • Linda Lee Evans

    There is nothing as beautiful & uplifting as a tree. That one man could plant a forest of trees out of love and caring is miraculous and wonderful. I pledge to find some open land and plant a tree in his honor...and hopefully many more in days to come. Thank you for this video.

  • M.SREENIVAS

    SORRY THE VIDEO IS NOT PLAYED PROPERLY

  • LuSinda

    As children my father got us to plant a forest of pine on 15+ acres of sand dunes with a garbage dump in the centre on the Gull River in Southern Ontario Canada. At 40 years there was 3 inches of topsoil and a wonderful home for flying squirrels, birds, etc.The last time I was there I was impressed with the fact that we made this forest because of my fathers vision. Yes, he left the world a better place.

  • Rabindra Nath Roy

    one man can do lot only if he is committed to do lthings that he is doing and if that is the rigfht thing that he is doing. A marvellous story for thoise who lthink you need strong numbers for doing anything. Inspiring indeed.

  • Khatloo

    An absolute example of 'The Power of One' with profound inherent wisdom! Zillion salutes to this lone fighter of this abused planet.

  • JOHN RAMADHANI

    i love this story, is a beautifuly one

  • jeffrey farrar dean

    We in the U.S.A. had Johnny Appleseed, India has him.

  • Sandalwoodman

    What inspired you about this video? I am not alone. Go to the forest near you gather the seeds and grow them with children if you can. It is how we must balance the carbon life cycle of our earth. Growing the old Growth forest of our Earth since 1992.Read my Story Hawaii's Sandalwood nuts. Plant a tree for everybody is what you need to be doing!

  • BrightStar

    Conservation can be achieved by being on the ground and working on the soil - not by sitting behind the desk, achieving loads of qualifications and writing papers. Ideas are born in the mind of Jadev Payeng where the true spirit of Conservation lives. With plant conservation, Jadev has naturally attracted fauna. Plants can do the job - let's assure plants live. Plant a plant - and the environment is taken care.

  • Kirsty

    You can't change the world but you can change your role in it

  • John Malcomson

    FYI: the link specified in the video is no longer active. For more INFO, got to: http://polygonwindowproductions.com/portfolio/forest-man-documentary/ Thank you for sharing this incredible video and project!

  • Tobesograteful

    This gentleman is obviously a great teacher--if people in India would join him they could change the whole country and beyond. May GOD Bless him to reach his complete destiny.

  • Ida

    I just love and admire the Forest Man's bold desire and action to make a difference where he is. He did not look down upon his abilities but instead realised that he had power within himself to make a difference in this world. I loud him for his efforts

  • Mari

    His passion to repair the environment is wonderful, but he is right about man consuming everything. It makes my heart ache to think that all of his hard work could be consumed by selfish humans. Nevertheless we can do our bit and hold onto hope.

  • yuling

    This is such a beautiful story! Beautifully made as well!! I love it!

  • Sareh

    One can do really alot with consistency...although not everyone must do the same thing...you have to find what you can do to help mother Earth and future living generations develope happy, healthy and prosperous.

  • Lorraine Sntclaire

    I say give this amazing man the island and let him show the world what we all should be doing. Not madly, blindly consuming but working for and with nature. Instead of just thanking and honouring him go out and plant a coconut tree!

  • BN

    Slowly and steadily with effort and passion, one person can make a significant difference.

  • R.G.Acharya

    It is sense of commitment to do good to the society. He has followed Lokaah samastaa sukhino bhavanto prayer uttered at the end of all religin function in Hindu tradition.

  • Sheila

    What one person can do...we can each do one good thing every day

  • Gwen

    Thank you, thank you, thank you. So inspiring. Much gratitude.

  • Rev. Nano

    Jadev's noble persistence and extraordinary results should be known the world over. He is a saintly member of the humane race and needs to be emulated.

  • peggy

    Beautiful video with a beautiful message. With great gratitude for sharing this inspiring mans' work.

  • Terry

    This is one of the most beautiful and inspiring videos I've seen. Mr. Payeng, you are an amazing man. Thank you for what you've done to bring so much beauty to your island. You are an inspiration to me.

  • Kristin Pedemonti

    Beautiful illustration of how one person can make a huge impact. One step, one tree at a time. Or one step, insert YOUR Passion here, at a time. HUG. Thank you for having the courage and the heart to change the landscape one tree at a time.

  • Georgia

    Thank you for having a vision and the courage to follow through and attempt to make a difference.

  • Theresa

    Thank you Jadev for being such a caring human being, I too love trees, each day I spend time in my backyard which has many trees and a creek, it lifts my spirit to enter the woods and walk by the stream, let us all do our part to preserve all the beautiful gifts God has given us, if we keep misusing our home as we have been all will be lost, what will be left is just urban sprawl, air that we cannot breath,only animals that are caged in Zoos and no forests to roam - I certainly don't want to be here when that happens, let's all do our part as this wonderful man has - God Bless Jadev.

  • Deepak

    This is inspirational . Thank you . The Power of One is so vividly demonstrated in this video . it is a must see for all human beings .

  • deborah

    This sounds so good, but like the recycle "do" it serves to justify the very thinking that created the problem. The culture’s story is faulty, full of beliefs that do not align with nature-purposely set aside by Greeks. If we do not go to the core of the problems we have manifested due to ignorance-we are only serving to augment or bandage the dis-ease. We are being encouraged to write a new story in many stories.. Story tellers connect!

  • Geraldine

    Thank you Jadev for taking care of the trees and Majuli.I would love to come and visit your forest. With love and best wishes to you and your family.

  • Mona Shah

    Just goes to show you that one person can make a difference ...... Just need the vision and faith!!! Kudos to Mr. Payeng. Truly inspiring!

  • tom

    Just everything that is right in our world and gives it hope

  • Carolyn

    I, too, believe that planting trees helps our world in many ways. Where I live, the elms drop seeds that sprout up in inconvenient places. I offer these small trees to people via freecycle and they are always taken!

  • Snehlata Patel

    Amazing to see the impact of what one person's efforts can do in such a positive way. Great story - thanks for sharing it.

  • Uma

    we think it is hopeless, but our day to day actions can uplift us and inspire others...

  • Maria Tainio

    Everything. The whole story. It made a big influence on me. I got tears in my eyes when watching at it. Thank You.

  • sandy

    So humbling and inspiring! We can all make a difference...We, my husband and I, have land in Ellijay, Georgia, and we put it in conservation and intend to keep it that way only planting limited areas respecting wildlife.

  • Dilip Patel

    Inspired to plant a tree for the posterity.

  • JERRY

    Just goes to SHOW how one person can make changes for the planet! let each of use try & make ou world better where ever we live; starting today.

  • Sundi

    One man who recognizes the sacredness of trees as they intersect with other species - what a wonderful human being. I'm so happy to see that he has been recognized for his efforts, and I pray that others help him protect and preserve what he has saved. Thank you for this beautiful and inspiring story.

  • yvonne

    this is such a beautiful video about a lovely compassionate forward thinking person. If only everyone could see the world about them through his eyes. His life and his love of nature brings hope and sunshine into one's heart. I am so glad I was able to watch such an uplifting almost spiritual person doing his life's work . This should be shown in every school to teach children the most important lesson in life. To love, respect and take care of every living thing

  • Mary Boorman

    The power of one compassionate and caring human being like Jadev Payeng and here I sit doing zip! I am now going to plant trees because for too long now I have been cogitating about it and not taking action. Action is eloquence as we see here and to see the various animals 115 elephants returning to this magic place - what is not to be inspired by! :-) Thanks so very much for posting this video which I will share far and wide now. :-)

  • Page 1

  • Learn more about Jadev Payeng and the documentary on Jadev's lifetime work on their respective Facebook pages.
  • Learn how to properly plant a tree. Then consider planting one in Jadev's honor.
  • After you plant the trees, go take a walk amongst them. Read about the benefits they have on things such as happiness too. 

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