BONN (Germany) — The Singapore Botanic Gardens is now the Republic’s very first UNESCO World Heritage Site after receiving the World Heritage Committee’s nod of approval today (July 4).

The decision was delivered by permanent representative of India to UNESCO Ruchira Kamboj at the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee held at Bonn, Germany.

Leading the Singapore delegation in Bonn was Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong who said Singapore now has the honour and privilege of “being home to one of these world treasures”. He was accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Heritage Board and the National Parks Board.

He added: “This inscription is especially meaningful, as we celebrate our 50th year as a sovereign and independent nation. It is therefore an accolade that resonates deeply with Singaporeans as we come together this year to reflect on our heritage, our identity and our place in the world.”

The 156-year-old gardens’ nomination was put up for discussion and decision-making by the 21-member committee today. Including the Botanic Gardens, the committee will be examining 36 proposals nominated to be inscribed on the World Heritage list.

The committee had unanimously adopted the expert panel International Council on Monuments and Sites’ (Icomos) recommendation to inscribe the Botanic Gardens for inscription without reservation — the best recommendation possible — in May.

To qualify, the site must possess an “outstanding universal value” that reflects their unique position in global history. Likewise, they need to meet at least one out of the ten selection criteria to be successfully inscribed.

The Botanic Gardens met two of these criteria – it reflected an interchange of human values and illustrated a significant stage in human history.

Preparation work for the gardens’ listing started five years ago. In 2010, Singapore conducted a feasibility study on the possible sites to be put up for inscription and the earlier contenders included Little India, Chinatown, Fort Canning, among others.

In 2012, Singapore ratified the World Heritage Convention submitted its World Heritage Tentative List to indicate interest in inscribing the gardens as a World Heritage Site.

The official nomination dossier was officially submitted in Jan 2014 and the Icomos made a technical assessment visit to the gardens in September the same year.

The annual conference, which is held from Jun 28 to Jul 08, discusses and decides on issues relating to the protection of the world’s cultural and natural heritage as well as to decide on the inscription of new world heritage sites. Other newly inscribed sites at the conference this year include the Rock Art in the Hail Region of Saudi Arabia and the Blue and John Crow Mountains in Jamaica.

The Botanic Gardens also joins more than 1,000 sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, including two other gardens: The 1759 Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England, and the 1545 Orto botanico di Padova in Padua, Italy.