Dr. Rene Haller 

Rene Haller (born December 18, 1933) is a Swiss-born naturalist, trained in horticulture, landscaping and tropical agronomy. He is best known for his restoration of a limestone quarry in Mombasa, Kenya into the ecological wonder now known as Haller Park.

In 1956, Rene came to Africa to supervise a coffee plantation on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. In 1959, He was recruited by the Bamburi Cement Company to produce fruit and vegetables for it's workers. He was also assigned to beautify the area surrounding the site. Under Rene’s leadership, 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, Dr. 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 the main recipient of funds raised by Haller. 

Rene's work has been recognised worldwide:

• In 1987 he was awarded the prestigious UNEP Global 500 Roll of Honour by the United Nations, 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

Rene is a Trustee of Haller, the Director of The Baobab Trust, and interim Chair of the Kenyan Wildlife Service Board of Trustees. He is also well known as the author of many publications on wasteland rehabilitation.