Francis Hallé passed away on 31 December

Francis Hallé passed away on 31 December at the age of 87.

With great emotion, Meise Botanic Garden respectfully acknowledges his significant contributions as a distinguished French botanist, dedicated humanist, and tireless advocate for botanical appreciation and wonder.

Francis Hallé made significant contributions to various educational and artistic initiatives at Meise Botanic Garden, leaving a lasting impact on these projects. He is remembered for his intellectual curiosity and willingness to explore innovative approaches. Through his publications and endeavors such as The Canopy Raft (Le Radeau des Cimes), he passionately conveyed the complexity and beauty of plant life.

His dedication to primary forests, profound respect for the living world, and remarkable talent for inspiring wonder will continue to shape and inspire our efforts.

To help keep his ideas and projects alive, we encourage you to support the association he established, which is committed to restoring a primary forest in Western Europe: https://www.foretprimaire-francishalle.org

Photo: Francis Hallé visiting Meise Botanic Garden in 2015, alongside our CE0, Steven Dessein.