The Forest Keeper-The True Story of Jadav Payeng

Trees don’t grow on sandbars . . . but a boy from India grew a forest.<BR><BR>What can one person do in the face of global environmental degradation? Jadav Payeng is just a boy in northeast India when the mighty Brahmaputra River floods and sweeps away all vegetation from the river islands, leaving behind a barren sandbar. When the local elders refuse to take action Jadav decides to complete a seemingly impossible task himself. With only a bag of bamboo seeds and his unwavering determination, Jadav plants seedlings in an effort to restore the sandbar to a lush forest.<BR> <BR> Since 1979, a forest the size of Central Park has emerged, offering a home to countless animals and plants. It wasn’t until 2007 that a photographer accidentally stumbled upon the forest that Payeng and his passion became known to the world.<BR> <BR> Rina Singh has sensitively retraced the story of young Jadav Payeng. In Ishita Jain's lush illustrations readers feel immersed in the spectacular habitat whose existence borders on a miracle come true. This encouraging read is perfect for those who are looking to make a difference in their own communities.