PASIGHAT, Feb 15: Environmental activist and Padma Shree awardee Jadav Payeng, popularly known as the Forest Man of India along with his state counterpart Indi Glow, lovingly called as the Forest Man of Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday morning took part in a massive plantation drive along the banks of the Siang river in the flood prone Borguli village under Mebo subdivision.
The plantation drive was organized by SEEANG (Siang Eco-system Environment Protection And Nature Group) and about 100 trees (Holok and Quercus) were planted by the dignitaries. 
Later during the day-long Siang Flood Protection Awareness Camp held at the village Dere (Community Hall), a short film on the achievements of Payeng was presented by Director IPR Obang Tayeng, while the keynote address was delivered through a Power Point Presentation by Secretary General of SEEANG, Group Captain Mohonto Panging Pao (Retd). 
Payeng narrated his journey from a humble origin to becoming the Forest Man of India and elaborated his experience of transforming a barren sandbar to a lush green forest area of about 550 hectares in Kokilamukh, Jorhat. He briefed how he single-handedly planted an entire forest after a catastrophic drought and after a life-threatening flood which is now a haven for tigers, elephants, rhinos, wild boars, reptiles, deer, vultures and various migratory birds etc. Making an ardent call to the people to save environment from vanishing into oblivion due to rampant deforestation, he said one should inculcate the habit of planting a tree each day, instead of spending large amounts of money on a single day in the name of World Environment Day.
Arunachal’s Forest Man, Glow narrated the story of a successful conservation model implemented by him in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary of West Kameng district. While sharing his experiences of transformation of local villagers of the area from hunters to conservationists, he also announced his full support for the flood protection works undertaken by SEEANG in the affected villages of Mebo. SEEANG President Yemling Tayeng, DIPR Tayeng, Mebo ADC Hage Lailang, Gp Capt Pao, senior intellectuals, members of ABK and WASE also spoke on the occasion.
Emotional songs on conservation were presented by Lonyuk Lego and his team from Borguli village and children of Kiyit Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya. NSS Unit of JN College and students of KP Vivekananda Memorial School Pasighat staged plays on conservation. DIPRO

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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