Singapore Botanic Gardens unveils Site Management Plan for UNESCO World Heritage Site Nomination

Singapore, 20 November 2013 - The proposed five-year Site Management Plan for the Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBG) was unveiled today by the National Heritage Board (NHB) and National Parks Board (NParks). The Plan proposes how the Gardens will be managed, and is part of the Nomination Dossier that will be submitted to UNESCO. The Gardens is Singapore’s inaugural nomination for inscription as a World Heritage Site. The public is invited to contribute their feedback to the Plan. This constitutes the second stage of the public consultation process. Hardcopies of the Plan are available at the three Visitor Service Counters at the Gardens, while the softcopy is available online at www.sbg.org.sg/unesco.

The Nomination Dossier comprises two parts: i) a Nomination Document, which was made available for public feedback on 11 September, and ii) a Site Management Plan. To date, NHB and NParks have received over 100 feedback submissions on the Nomination Document.  Most of the comments received are either expressions of support for SBG’s nomination, or sharing memories of time spent at the Gardens. Where possible, feedback from the public will be incorporated into the Nomination Dossier, which will be submitted to UNESCO by February 2014.  The World Heritage Committee will then deliberate on the nomination and decide if the Gardens is worthy of inscription.

Dr Nigel Taylor, Director of the Gardens, said: “The Plan reflects our commitment to conserving the Gardens’ historical and cultural significance, while continuing in its central mission of connecting plants and people. We hope that the public will come forward and have a stake in Singapore’s first nomination for a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and contribute more ideas on how, together, we can ensure that the Gardens remains a rich heritage for generations to come.”

Ms Jean Wee, Director of the Preservation of Sites and Monuments, NHB said: “The Site Management Plan is an integral part of the Nomination process as it details to UNESCO how the Gardens will be managed. More importantly, it signals a continued commitment to conserve a site dearly loved by many Singaporeans. The rich heritage of the Gardens is a testament to how far we have come as a nation, and we invite Singaporeans to contribute to the protection of this legacy.”

Site Management Plan

The Site Management Plan highlights how the Outstanding Universal Values (part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site criteria), authenticity and integrity of the Gardens are conserved, and/or enhanced and used sustainably. Some examples highlighted in the Plan include:

a)    Conservation of Heritage Trees

b)    Enhancements in the Gardens to connect plants and people

a)    Conservation of Heritage Trees

Heritage Trees are an important part of the Gardens’ history. Several measures, including installation of lightning protectors, have been implemented over the years to conserve these trees. Later this year, fences will also be installed around two Tembusu Heritage trees – one of which is featured on Singapore’s $5 note and the other at Palm Valley. This is to alleviate soil compaction, which impedes root growth and is detrimental to the health of the trees. The high number of visitors treading around the two iconic trees, and in some cases, climbing on the trees, are possible causes for the compaction

Ten additional trees in the Gardens have also been endorsed as Heritage Trees, bringing the total number of Heritage Trees in the Gardens to 44.

b)    Enhancements in the Gardens

Since the late 19^th century, the Gardens’ mission grew from being a pleasure garden, into one that seeks to connect plants and people. In line with this mission, several enhancements have been made to the Gardens. From 30 November 2013, visitors to the Gardens will be able to visit new developments such as the Foliage Garden, the SBG Heritage Museum at Holttum Hall and its extension, the CDL Green Gallery.

Located at the Bukit Timah Core of the Gardens, the new Foliage Garden showcases more than 300 species of plants with diverse colours, shapes and textures. From leaves with hues of silver, yellow, pink and purple to those with ridged or leathery textures, the Garden seeks to inspire visitors on the use of diverse plants to add colour and unique points of interest in gardens and landscapes.

Located within the existing Holttum Hall,which is next to Botany Centre in the Tanglin Core of the Gardens,the SBG Heritage Museum features interactive exhibits that detail the Garden’s rich history.An extension to the Museum, the CDL Green Gallery, contributed by CDL, will feature greening and/or botanical-related exhibits.

Activities for the public

Apart from inviting the public to contribute feedback to the Nomination Dossier, NParks has also organised more than 50 activities for the public to celebrate SBG’s rich heritage. From 30 November until 15 December 2013, the public can participate in activities including heritage guided walks, outdoor movie screenings, musical performances by the Bandstand, and more. Details of the activities are available at www.sbg.org.sg/heritage