The Forest Keeper–The True Story of Jadav Payeng

Trees don’t grow on sandbars . . . but a boy from India grew a forest.

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.

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.

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.

• | Author: Ishita Jain, Rina Singh
• | Publisher: North-South Books
• | Publication Date: Oct 21, 2025
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• | Binding: Paperback / softback
• | ISBN-13: 9780735845954
• | ISBN-10: 0735845956