In Northeast India, a man named Jadav “Molai” Peyeng has been planting trees. He’s been doing this since 1979 to save the Majuli Island, the home of over 150,000 people. The land mass of the island shrunk down to half its size due to rapidly increasing erosion.Jadav knew he had to do something to save the island for people and the animals.
He planted thousands of plants and trees, including 300 hectares of bamboo. He knew the roots of the trees would prevent erosion.
The forest that Jadav planted is now the home for Indian rhinoceros, Bengal tigers, deer, rabbits, apes, and birds, including a large number of vultures.
A herd of 100 elephants visits the forest every year and stay for six months and they have given birth to 10 calves there in recent years.
Filmmaker [William Douglas McMaster](https://www.facebook.com/wdmcmaster) directed and wrote this documentary “Forest Man.” It won Best Documentary at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.