{{Short description|Forest in Assam, India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}} {{Infobox forest | name = Molai Forest | native_name = Molai kathoni | image = | image_caption = | image_size = | map = India Assam | map_caption = | map_width = | coordinates = {{coords|26|51|0|N|94|9|8|E|display=it}} | county = | region = [[Assam]] | country = [[India]] | elevation = | area = | max_area = | date_max_area = | status = | established = | visitation = | visitation_year = | events = | authority = | website = | ecosystem = | classification_WWF = | classification_EPA = | classification_CEC = | disturbance = | forest_cover = | species = | indicator_plants = | lesser_flora = | fauna = }} '''Molai forest''' is a forest on [[Majuli]] district in the [[Brahmaputra]] River near Kokilamukh, [[Assam]], [[India]]. It is named after [[Jadav Payeng]], an Indian environmental activist and forestry worker.
== History == [[File:JadavPayeng.jpg|thumb|upright|Jadav Molai Payeng, the man who planted the Molai Forest]]
Molai forest is named after [[Environmental movement|environmental]] activist and forestry worker [[Jadav Payeng |Jadav 'Molai' Payeng]]. After an initial [[Jadav Payeng#Career|200 hectare (500 acre) planting]] by the social forestry division of [[Golaghat district]] was abandoned in 1983,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.mongabay.com/2014/11/one-man-plants-forest-larger-than-central-park/|title=One man plants forest larger than Central Park|last=Joshi|first=Apoorva|date=13 November 2014|work=Mongabay News|access-date=20 August 2017}}</ref> the forest was single-handedly attended to by Payeng for 30 years and now encompasses an area of about 1,360 acres / 550 [[hectares]].<ref name="huffingtonpost2012">{{cite web | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/03/indian-man-jadav-molai-pa_n_1399930.html?src=sp&comm_ref=false | title=Indian Man, Jadav "Molai" Payeng, Single-Handedly Plants A 1,360 Acre Forest In Assam | publisher=[[The Huffington Post]] | accessdate=1 April 2014 | date=4 March 2012}}</ref> Payeng planted and tended trees on a [[sandbar]] of [[Majuli]] island in the [[Brahmaputra]] River, eventually becoming a forest reserve.
Molai forest now houses [[Bengal tiger]]s, [[Indian rhinoceros]], over 100 [[deer]] and [[rabbit]]s besides [[monkey]]s and several varieties of birds, including a large number of [[vulture]]s.<ref name="huffingtonpost2012"/> There are several thousand trees, including valcol, arjun (''[[Terminalia arjuna]]''), Pride of India (''[[Lagerstroemia speciosa]]''), royal poinciana (''[[Delonix regia]]''), silk trees (''[[Albizia]] procera''), moj (''[[Archidendron bigeminum]]'') and cotton trees (''[[Bombax ceiba]]''). Bamboo covers an area of over 300 hectares (700 acres).<ref name="asianagearchive">{{cite web | url=http://archive.asianage.com/india/man-creates-forest-single-handedly-brahmaputra-sand-bar-972 | title=Man creates forest single-handedly on Brahmaputra sand bar | publisher=[[The Asian Age]] | accessdate=1 April 2014 | date=25 March 2012}}</ref>
A herd of around 100 [[elephant]]s regularly visits the forest every year and generally stays for around six months. They have given birth to 10 calves in the forest.<ref name="asianagearchive" />
==Media==
Molai forest and Payeng have been the subject of a number of documentaries. A locally made film documentary, produced by Jitu Kalita in 2012 ''The Molai Forest'',<ref>{{IMDb title|qid=Q123750278|title=The Molai forest|description=2012}}</ref> was screened at the [[Jawaharlal Nehru University]]. Jitu Kalita, who lives near Payeng's house, has also featured and given recognition on his reporting of the life of Payeng through his documentary. Molai forest was also featured in a 2013 documentary ''Foresting life'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.humanitywatchdog.org/films/foresting-life-2013/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823002040/http://www.humanitywatchdog.org/films/foresting-life-2013/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 August 2013 |title=Foresting life |publisher=Humanity Watchdog |accessdate=1 April 2014 }} </ref> directed by the Indian documentary filmmaker [[Aarti Shrivastava]],<ref>{{IMDb title|qid=Q123750279|title=Foresting life|description=2013}}</ref> and in William Douglas McMaster's 2013 film documentary ''Forest Man''.<ref>{{IMDb title|qid=Q123750276|title=Forest Man|description=2013}}</ref> People have pledged 8,327 USD on the [[Kickstarter]] campaign<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/59012691/forest-man-post-production|title=Forest Man post production|publisher=[[Kickstarter]]|date=14 February 2013|accessdate=29 April 2014}}</ref> for the [[post-production]] of this documentary in early 2013, which was shown at [[2014 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Payeng film gets Cannes award|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140527/jsp/northeast/story_18384889.jsp#.U8fZSvmSySq|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726111126/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140527/jsp/northeast/story_18384889.jsp#.U8fZSvmSySq|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 July 2014|accessdate=17 July 2014|work=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph, Calcutta, India]]|date=26 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The American Pavilion 2014 Finalists Emerging Filmmaker Showcase:|publisher=The American Pavilion|url=http://www.ampav.com/index.php/student-programs/cannes-emerging-filmmaker-showcase/2014-finalists-emerging-filmmaker-showcase-presented-by-american-express/|accessdate=17 July 2014}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
[[Category:Natural history of India]] [[Category:Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests]] [[Category:Forests of India]] [[Category:Jorhat]] [[Category:Jorhat district]] [[Category:Islands of Assam]] [[Category:Tourism in Assam]] [[Category:Majuli]] [[Category:Islands of the Brahmaputra River]] [[Category:Tourism in Northeast India]] [[Category:Geography of Assam]]