The transformation of a wastelandby Faith Cherotich | 01-06-2019 00:10 |
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 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.
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