The Singapore Botanic Gardens has been declared a UNESCO
heritage site at 5.40pm on July 4 2015.
This makes the Botanic Gardens Singapore’s first World Heritage
Site.
World Heritage Site are chosen by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for being of
special cultural or physical significance.
The announcement came during the 39th session of the World
Heritage Committee (WHC) in Bonn, Germany.
The process for the UNESCO title started in 2010, following a
feasibility study by then Ministry of Information, Communications
and the Arts, in consultation with experts, academics and other
stakeholders, like the Singapore Heritage Society.
Singapore only formally submitted the Nomination Dossier for its
bid in January 2014.
The Botanic Gardens has been a prominent centre for plant
research in Southeast Asia since the 19th century. It was also seen
as a key element in the greening of Singapore. which influenced
town planning in other cities in Southeast Asia helped it clinch
the title.
Minister Khaw Boon Wan posted a blog entry titled: “It is
confirmed! We have a World Heritage Site in our midst”
In the post hosted at https://mndsingapore.wordpress.com he enthuses that
the announcement is "a great gift for SG50".
He adds: "Indeed, each of us has memories tied to the rich
history of the Gardens. The Gardens draws more than 4.4 million
visitors annually, making it the most-visited botanic garden in the
world."
TNP