The transformation of a wasteland

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The transformation of a wasteland
by Faith Cherotich \| 01-06-2019 00:10 0
Haller park, located in Mombasa Kenya, is a man-made sanctuary that testament to successful landscape rehabilitation. Difficult Start Once a cement quarry, the area had turned into an harsh arid wasteland. In 1959, a rehabilitation project was ensued and spearheaded by Dr. Rene Haller who the park is named after. However, this ambitious project was rife with a myriad of challenges. The area was a limestone desert with harsh inhospitable conditions for survival of flora and fauna at the time. The project aimed to reintroduce vegetation in the otherwise arid wasteland which had faced years of degradation through quarrying. Upon introduction of vegetation, only 3 plant species survived; The damas, coconut palm, and the casuarina. Soon after, in an innovative quest to make use of the surviving vegetation, Dr Rene Haller introduced the African "red-legged" millipedes which fed on the pine needles of the Casuarina. Their droppings formed a rich layer of humus which facilitated the growth of other plants which started to slowly transform the landscape. Other animal species were later introduced. Successful Transformation After years of rehabilitation involving reforestation and introduction various flora and fauna, the park has been transformed into an ecological marvel with hardly any semblance to it's polluted past. It is an ecological marvel. The park has since become a popular recreation space for Mombasa residents, a major tourist attraction and an educational retreat with it's nature trails, wildlife sanctuary, diverse vegetation, aquatic life in various ponds which makes it a rich and unique ecosystem.

Dormant user Faith Cherotich

6 Comments

Kushal Naharki

Kushal Naharki says :
Hello Faith

I do hope that you are fine and doing great with your works.
Thank you for your report about the transformation of the wasteland. It is really an impressive report.
Great work :)

Green Cheers from Nepal :)
Keep writing great reports.
We are eager to read more reports from you.

Regards,
Kushal Naharki

Posted 17-06-2019 05:55

Wonhee Mentor says :
Hello Faitu

Thank you for introducing Haller park to us! I think it is one of the best examples of how technology development can help to save the environments. I am very pleased to hear that rehabilitation involving reforestation and introduction of new species has been successful. I hope this beautiful and unparalleled ecosystem keep its biodiversity forever. Thank you for all your time and efforts taken in this report. : )

Wonhee Mentor

Posted 03-06-2019 21:37

Rosa Domingos says :
Hi Faith!

I hope you are well! Wow, I am at awe of the hard work and result that came into getting the place as marvelous as it is today! The Haller park truely sets an example to many other organisations and governments who would like to chnage their degraded land into a scenery like the Park.

Thank you for introducing this to us Faith! Truely marvelous!
Posted 03-06-2019 21:22

Asmita Gaire says :
Hello faith
A beautiful transformation.
It would have been wonderful to visit there.
Thank you so much for this report.
Green cheers!
Posted 03-06-2019 14:01

Louis Mentor says :
Hi Faith,

Thank you for letting us to know about Haller Park, and it is great to hear that the transformation went great! Due to the pollution and deforestation, many areas of this earth has became harsh arid wasteland and with that said, I think the transformation is pretty meaningful in a sense that it is actually possible to restore the environment somehow although not perfectly. I think many countries should consider such practices and benchmark them so that we can restore our beautiful environment again. Great!

Louis Mentor
Posted 02-06-2019 00:23