THE National Environment Management Council (NEMC) and Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) have planted more than 300 trees within Pugu/Kazimzumbwi Nature Forest Reserve in honour and memory of the late Kenyan environmentalist and human rights activist Prof Wangari Maathai.

The ceremony to launch the planting was held at the weekend in the forest where various envoys representing their countries in Tanzania participated along with environmental activists.

NEMC director general Dr Immaculate Semesi said the society should be motivated to see the importance of planting trees as part of taking care of the environment and dealing with climate change that cause various disasters.

 She said that the event was important to celebrate the life of Prof Maathari because she did a great job of planting trees and encouraging environmental care to the extent that she was awarded the Nobel Prize.

 Semesi said that trees are an important ingredient that makes the world continues to thrive as they help to filter air, bring rain, and support access to food and businesses.

 "Mama Maathai was an environmental heroine and the best role model for Africa and the whole world recognized as a leader in environmental protection. So, we should continue to honour her with actions like what are doing today," she said.

 "We at NEMC have our slogan that ‘environment is life’ and one of the things that bring life are trees. So, we have no other choice but to ensure that we plant trees in abundance and all the time.

Kenyan High Commissioner to Tanzania Isaac Njenga said everyone should see that they have a debt and a big responsibility to ensure that they take care of the environment for the benefit of the present and future generations.

 He said the environment that we are proud of today is a result of work done by pioneers who dedicated themselves to planting trees and taking care of them such as Prof Maathai.

 "One of the things that Wangari Maathai encouraged was the care for the environment for future generations and she used to stress that we have a responsibility as the current generation to plant tree and take care of the environment," he said and added.

Carolen Mavunde, deputy conservation commissioner at TFS said the Pugu/Kazimzumbwi forest has 8,965 hectares with 80 species of birds and 14 species of small animals as well as plants that are in danger of extinction.

  She said that the trees planted in the forest are those that are resistant to drought, naming some as Migunga and Kangangi which grow along rivers.

Prof Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization focused on the planting of trees, environmental conservation, and women's rights. In 2004 she became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She died on September 25, 2011 in Nairobi at the age of 71 years.