The Haller Foundation was established as a charity in 2004 after Louise Piper met Dr Rene Haller, an inspirational and pioneering force in Kenya. Dr Haller had been awarded the UNEP Global 500 Award for his outstanding contribution to the environment and it was her intention to ensure that his model for landscape regeneration for food security could be continued and replicated elsewhere in Africa. This is the story of Dr. Haller’s work in Mombasa, Kenya which influenced Louise to establish The Haller Foundation.
In 1959, Dr. Haller was employed by the Bamburi Cement Company to produce food and vegetables for the employees of the cement company. In 1970, he persuaded them to extend his remit by rehabilitating the cement quarries along the Mombasa coastline which had been left barren by years of excavations – a formidable task.
The quarry floor was as barren as the moon, the sun baked air temperatures were up to 40oC and the water was saline.
After trying over 26 species of trees, Dr. Haller discovered that only the casuarinas tree, a native Australian species, could grow in these severe conditions. Its leaves are bunched together like pine needles, protecting them from losing moisture through evaporation.
After 10 months, Dr Haller looked at healthy casuarinas trees growing wild on the sand dunes as the early seedlings had started to wither. He noticed that the dense hair roots contained a cocktail of micro-organisms living in a symbiotic relationship necessary to the trees. After he introduced these into the quarry, the trees began to flourish.
In order to decompose the mass of needles, Dr. Haller introduced local “red legged” millipedes who he had noticed actually ate these needles. By feeding on these needles and turning them into humus, the first layer of soil was formed.
He went on to plant over 1 million trees in the quarry and after ten years a new balanced micro-climate had allowed new plants to flourish. The casuarinas trees were thinned out and native species were introduced, which attracted many insects, butterflies and birds to the quarries. Subsequently renamed The Haller Park, the quarries now contain a wide species of local wild animals as well as a very diverse selection of plants and trees. The Park now provides a sanctuary for over 30 species from the IUCN Red list of endangered species.
Adhering to his firm belief that economy and ecology had to be in balance, he went on to create over 47 income-producing ventures in the quarry which produced the capital required for further investment. These ranged from fish and crocodile farming to commercial tree nurseries, honey production, biogas from the fish faecal matter and many others.
In 1991, Dr. Haller set up The Baobab Trust as a non-profit organisation that works closely with the local communities. Using his knowledge in developing sustainable eco-systems, the Trust builds on his experience through education, training and community initiatives.
After meeting Dr. Haller and seeing The Baobab Trust’s incredible impact, Louise felt compelled to support their work to ensure its continued success and expansion. Since its inception, The Haller Foundation has supported The Baobab Trust’s projects and undertaken many of its own.
Louise established a strong board of trustees which include Dr. Haller and Julia Hailes. Dr Haller had proposed Julia as he had worked with her in the mid 1990’s following their both being awarded the UNEP Global 500 Award. Julia is a leading environmental consultant, often described as the “Earth Mother of Green Consumerism”. She has played a pivotal role in the evolution and direction of The Haller Foundation. There are now 7 Trustee members with a broad range of skills from banking to design and marketing, including our Chairman, Charles Middleton, Head of Triodos UK, Europe’s leading ethical investment bank. Charles has helped in the transformation from the “Kitchen Table” charity in Tunbridge Wells to a fully fledged charity with a real impact on the ground.