World Heritage Site status for Botanic Gardens: Parks interested

Straits Times Forum 17 Apr 09;

I REFER to Mr Tan Wee Cheng's letter, 'Botanic Gardens should be made World Heritage Site' (April 9).

The Singapore Botanic Gardens has come a long way since its beginnings as an experimental garden in 1859. Today, the gardens is a leading centre for botanical research and conservation, a much-loved civic space and one of Singapore's top attractions.

Recent international accolades such as Time magazine's choice of the gardens as 'Asia's Best Urban Jungle' and a three Michelin star rating by the Michelin Green Guide bear testimony to the gardens' enduring charm.

We thank Mr Tan for his continued support, and are glad to inform him that we are indeed interested in exploring Singapore Botanic Gardens' nomination as a World Heritage Site.

We hope that Mr Tan, and our visitors who come from around the world, will continue to enjoy the gardens and activities planned in the year ahead to mark its 150th anniversary.

Dr Chin See Chung
Director, Singapore Botanic Gardens
National Parks Board