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."
congrats singapore
Botanic Garden deserve it. Very good effort and job done.
it is indeed educational, interesting, relaxing and fun at J Ballas/Botanic Gardens.
woots completes with EJH corner house that shd be gazetted and preserved too
well deserved.