SINGAPORE: The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) on Friday (May 15) recommended that the Singapore Botanic Gardens be inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The ICOMOS' recommendation will be taken into consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, and a final decision will be announced in Bonn, Germany, in July.
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Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong said on Friday he was "absolutely delighted" with the ICOMOS recommendation.
"NOT TIME TO POP CHAMPAGNE"
But "it's not time to pop the champagne", said Mr Wong, as the final decision rests with the World Heritage Committee. "But this positive recommendation by ICOMOS will be a very positive step forward for our bid, and we will go into the World Heritage Committee in Bonn, Germany, in July with much greater confidence."
As a rigorous assessment process by an independent panel of experts, Mr Wong explained that it takes about three years for a decision to be made on a submission by ICOMOS. The Botanic Gardens took about a year and a half.
"It says something about the intrinsic value of some of our heritage sites, particularly the Botanic Gardens, and also the commitment that we as a nation take to preserve our heritage and to conserve something that's precious not just to us, but to the whole of humanity."
Mr Wong also shared that the ICOMOS panel had also made some recommendations for the Botanic Gardens to strengthen its conservation efforts, and the protective buffer zone around the site.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-botanic-gardens/1849404.html?cid=fbsg
