Rene Haller
Encyclopedia
René Daniel Haller is a Swiss naturalist
, trained in Horticulture
, Landscaping and Tropical Agronomy
. Since the 1970s, he has been known for his commitment to environmental restoration. He is best known for his restoration of a limestone quarry wasteland in Mombasa
, Kenya
, into the nature park and wildlife sanctuary named Haller Park
.
Haller is a recipient of a number of awards. He was one of the first recipients of the prestigious Global 500 Roll of Honor by the United Nations
for his 'outstanding environmental achievements. He is well known as author of many publications on his wasteland rehabilitation work. He is a Trustee of the Haller Foundation
, the Director of The Baobab Trust, and interim Chair of the Kenyan Wildlife Service Board of Trustees.
, Switzerland
in 1933. During his time in Switzerland
, he did an apprenticeship as a gardener and specialized in landscaping.
to supervise a coffee plantation on Mount Kilimanjaro
, Tanzania
. In 1959, He was recruited by the Bamburi Cement
Company to head up their Garden Department. He was assigned to produce food (fruit and vegetables) for Bamburi factory workers. He was also assigned to beautify the area surrounding the site
In the 1970s, Haller began an ecological experiment to rehabilitate the limestone quarries scarring the Mombasa coastline. Today Haller has transformed much of the 7 square kilometer Bamburi site from an infertile and dusty landscape to an ecological haven. The quarries are now a combination of lakes, wetlands and savannah grasslands with walking and cycling trails. In 2002, nearly 100,000 visitors came to the Nature Park and Wildlife Sanctuary.
Under Haller's leadership, the Garden department expanded as poultry, sheep and goats were included in production. By 1977 it had become economically self-sustaining which encouraged Rene to incorporate Baobab Farm.
In 1991, Haller created the Baobab Trust to carry out the non-commercial activities at Baobab Farm. As a result of its charitable status, the trust was able to use income generated from a large scale tree planting initiative funded by an American Care organization. Baobab trust is also the main recipient of funds raised by the Haller Foundation. Today Haller carries out most of its activities through the Baobab Trust.
, for his 'outstanding environmental achievements'.
In 1991 he received the Swiss Brandenberger prize, as well as an Honorary Doctor's degree from the University of Basle. In April 2003, he was appointed to the board of the Kenyan Wildlife Service.
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
, trained in Horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
, Landscaping and Tropical Agronomy
Agronomy
Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation. Agronomy encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. Agronomy is the application of a combination of sciences like biology,...
. Since the 1970s, he has been known for his commitment to environmental restoration. He is best known for his restoration of a limestone quarry wasteland in Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, into the nature park and wildlife sanctuary named Haller Park
Haller Park
Haller Park is nature park in Bamburi, Mombasa, on the Kenyan Coast. It is the transformation of a quarry wasteland into an ecological paradise. Haller Park holds a variety of plant and animal species which serve as a recreation hot spot to tourists and locals...
.
Haller is a recipient of a number of awards. He was one of the first recipients of the prestigious Global 500 Roll of Honor by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
for his 'outstanding environmental achievements. He is well known as author of many publications on his wasteland rehabilitation work. He is a Trustee of the Haller Foundation
Haller Foundation
Haller was founded in 2004 in the United Kingdom by Ann Louise Piper to help small holder farmers and their families in water harvesting and sustainable farming methods, including organic farming, use of natural pesticides, integrated aquaculture systems and animal husbandry. Haller is inspired...
, the Director of The Baobab Trust, and interim Chair of the Kenyan Wildlife Service Board of Trustees.
Early life
Rene Haller was born in LenzburgLenzburg
Lenzburg is a town in the central region of the Swiss canton Aargau and is the capital of the district of the same name. The town, founded in the Middle Ages, lies in the Seetal valley, about 3 kilometres south of the Aare river. Lenzburg and the neighbouring municipalities of Niederlenz and...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in 1933. During his time in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, he did an apprenticeship as a gardener and specialized in landscaping.
Career
In 1956, Haller came to AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
to supervise a coffee plantation on Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is a dormant volcano in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at above sea level .-Geology:...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. In 1959, He was recruited by the Bamburi Cement
Bamburi Cement
Bamburi Cement is one of sub-saharan Africa's largest cement producers founded by Felix Mandl. The company is listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange and its name is abbreviated to BCC....
Company to head up their Garden Department. He was assigned to produce food (fruit and vegetables) for Bamburi factory workers. He was also assigned to beautify the area surrounding the site
In the 1970s, Haller began an ecological experiment to rehabilitate the limestone quarries scarring the Mombasa coastline. Today Haller has transformed much of the 7 square kilometer Bamburi site from an infertile and dusty landscape to an ecological haven. The quarries are now a combination of lakes, wetlands and savannah grasslands with walking and cycling trails. In 2002, nearly 100,000 visitors came to the Nature Park and Wildlife Sanctuary.
Under Haller's leadership, the Garden department expanded as poultry, sheep and goats were included in production. By 1977 it had become economically self-sustaining which encouraged Rene to incorporate Baobab Farm.
In 1991, Haller created the Baobab Trust to carry out the non-commercial activities at Baobab Farm. As a result of its charitable status, the trust was able to use income generated from a large scale tree planting initiative funded by an American Care organization. Baobab trust is also the main recipient of funds raised by the Haller Foundation. Today Haller carries out most of its activities through the Baobab Trust.
Awards and honors
In 1987, Dr. Haller was awarded the prestigious UNEP Global 500 Roll of Honor by the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, for his 'outstanding environmental achievements'.
In 1991 he received the Swiss Brandenberger prize, as well as an Honorary Doctor's degree from the University of Basle. In April 2003, he was appointed to the board of the Kenyan Wildlife Service.