Part I: Jadav Payeng Tree Planting at Chimney Rock Park, New Jersey
Channel: Mustafa Barbhuiya
Date: 2015-10-19

The Bridgewater Township Shade Tree Board (Team Arbor) and the Assam Foundation of North America (AFNA) are pleased to announce a tree dedication ceremony to honor the internationally renowned forester Jadav Payeng. 

The free community event took place on Saturday, 17 October at 10:00 AM at Chimney Rock Park. The park is located on Chimney Rock Road, Martinsville. The event  included a memorial tree dedication, (live) music and a display of folk dance from Assam. The ceremony is sponsored through the support of the Assam Foundation of North America (AFNA). 

Jadav Payeng is a Mishing tribe environmental activist and forester from the river island Majuli, in the sate of Assam, India. Over the course of several decades, he has single handedly transformed almost 1,400 acres of a river sandbar into a bustling forest ecosystem through the planting and tending of thousands of trees. That’s equivalent to an area almost twice the size of Central Park in New York City. In recent years the island has been transformed into a preserve for over 100 species of trees and plants as well as a wildlife refuge for elephants, (Bengal) tigers, monkeys, birds and the rare one-horned Indian rhinoceros.
The celebration also marks Bridgewater’s achievement as a recognized Tree City USA for the 19th consecutive year and honors the community for its commitment to effective urban forest management. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. Bridgwater City Mayor Dan Hayes, Chris Poulsen from Department of Health and Human Service, Vice Consulof India at New York, Mr. Shambu Abitabh spoke on the occasion and participated in the half day event. 

Introduction by Niren Choudhury (AFNA), Chris Poulson (Department of Health Services, NJ) and short address by Bridgewater City Mayor Dan Hayes, Vice Consul of India at New York, Shambhu Amitabh, Upendra Chivukula, Commissioner of Public Utility.