On a special invitation, India’s forest-man will fly to Mexico in September. Jadav Payeng journey from a remote corner of the world’s largest inhabited river island Majuli to Mexico will be to help green the North American country.
“It is a government of the country project involving eight lakh hectares of land. To begin the massive plantation drive, I need to involve one lakh students per day. For this, I have signed a memorandum of understanding. The country has granted me a visa for ten years. Every year, I will spend three months in Mexico. In Mexico, the best months to plant trees are September, October, and November.The world is my home, and the youth are my strength. “I need to make the world green for the young, and developed countries are waking up to this quickly,” says Jadav Payeng.
On December 7, Molai Payeng, as he is known in his home country, signed an agreement with a Mexican NGO, Fundación Azteca, to collaborate on environmental projects in the North American country.
Source: Inside Chronicle
Cesar Rivas Statement:
Cesar Rivas, the Director of Entrepreneurship and Environmental Action at Fundación Azteca, will serve as the focal point for the institution’s collaboration with Jadav Payeng.
“As we have previously stated, it is an honour for us to have the opportunity to boost capacity building in support of ecosystem conservation and restoration through Mr Payeng’s experience and knowledge. We are particularly interested in inspiring current and future generations to take action to save our planet. In this context, we will be sending you a tentative activities calendar to achieve those goals,” Rivas said.
“We would be delighted if Mr Payeng could be one of the keynote speakers at the Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation Summit. We promote networking, capacity building, and recognise the most outstanding and innovative entrepreneurs in this space. This event will be held in November of 2021. We want to spread Mr. Jadav Payeng’s work and commitment to forest protection and restoration among the Foundation’s Civil Society Organizations, as well as its networks and platforms. “We are confident that our collaboration will accelerate positive environmental changes,” Rivas added.
Fundacion Azteca, founded in 1997 and owned by Grupo Salinas, is a non-profit organisation in Mexico that promotes social responsibility, particularly with regard to the environment.
Jadav Payeng Statement
“The concern is that India is overpopulated. We must plant trees in every available free space in the country, or else things will become difficult. The advanced countries have realised their over-exploitation of nature and are taking corrective action. Less developed countries are still in a better position, as long as action is taken in the right direction, according to Payeng. “I have advised the Mexico government to choose indigenous varieties over imported ones “added Payeng.
This Padmashree awardee specialises in transforming barren land into a lush green paradise. Payeng is credited with transforming a barren sandbar of the Brahmaputra into a 550-hectare forest by planting trees on his own. Molai Kathoni is now home to deer, rabbits, a couple of royal Bengal tigers, elephant herds, and a wide variety of local and migratory birds. Form 50 bamboo shoots in 1979 to a huge expanse of green, Jadav Payeng has shown the world what dedication and determination can achieve.
Students in the United States (US) are taught about Padma Shri awardee Payeng fairly. Payeng’s work is part of the sixth grade curriculum at Green Hills School in Bristol, Connecticut. As part of their ecology class, the students learn about Payeng’s work.
“Nature has a solution for COVID. During the lockdown, I saw my woodland regenerate. Because the Northeast is lush and densely forested, the pandemic’s spread is slower in the region than in the rest of the country. I have asked the UNESCO brand ambassador to observe a seven-day shutdown every year to allow nature to flourish. “I am optimistic,” Jadav Payeng says.
For the man whose life revolves around the tall trees and “Molai Kathoni”, Jadav Payeng intends to take an Areca nut and a coconut sapling along with him to Mexico as a gift from the land of tea and rhinos.
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