Speech by Minister Chee Hong Tat at Launch of Celebrating Singapore Botanic Gardens
Jul 18, 2025
Mr Loh Khum Yean, Chairman, NParks,
Ms Hwang Yu-Ning, CEO, NParks,
Distinguished guests and friends,
Colleagues
Ladies and Gentlemen
Introduction
Good evening. I am delighted to join everyone here this evening to celebrate the rich history of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Today, we celebrate three significant milestones – first, the 10th anniversary of Singapore Botanic Gardens as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; second, the 30th anniversary of the National Orchid Garden; and third, the 150th anniversary of the Singapore Herbarium and Library of Botany and Horticulture.
UNESCO World Heritage Site Inscription
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Gardens’ inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This is a great achievement, which we attained in 2015 when PM Lawrence Wong was Minister for Culture, Community & Youth. The Gardens is the only tropical botanic garden on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and one of only three botanic gardens worldwide to hold this honour.
To be recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site was a proud moment, not just for NParks and the MND family, but also for all Singaporeans. It signalled global recognition of the Gardens’ outstanding universal value as a place of botanical beauty and biodiversity, as well as a cultural, scientific and social institution rooted in our nation’s identity.
Since then, we have continued to enhance our gardens. This included the Gallop Extension in 2021 that houses the OCBC Arboretum and Mingxin Foundation Rambler’s Ridge, as well as the Tropical Montane Orchidetum that includes the Sembcorp Cool House.
In 2022, we opened the HPL Canopy Link that marked the completion of the Tyersall-Gallop Core of the Gardens.
These recent extensions and enhancements reflect our sustained dedication to this national landmark, and our commitment to uphold the Gardens’ standing as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
30th Anniversary of National Orchid Garden
Another milestone we are celebrating today is the 30th anniversary of the National Orchid Garden.
Orchids are closely intertwined with Singapore’s heritage and identity.
Our national flower, Vanda Miss Joaquim, is an orchid hybrid that symbolises vibrancy and resilience – values that continue to define us as a nation. Earlier I learnt that it grows even better when the sunlight is strong. So, just like Singapore, we thrive when we are faced with adversity and we emerge stronger, more resilient and more united.
The National Orchid Garden has also been a proud host for many diplomatic visits. Over the years, orchid hybrids have been named after visiting dignitaries, serving as symbols of strong bilateral ties.
On the global stage, the Gardens is well-known for its spectacular orchid garden, home to one of the largest collections of tropical orchids in the world.
It is therefore very fitting that NParks and the Orchid Society of Southeast Asia, or OSSEA, have co-organised the Singapore Garden Festival Orchid Show at the Orchid Garden.
There are more than 650 orchid plants on display, from tropical hybrids to cool-weather varieties. I had the pleasure of viewing the beautiful orchid entries earlier and would like to congratulate all participants for their creativity.
Rich Heritage of the Gardens
Ladies and gentlemen, it is also worth remembering that the histories of the Gardens and Singapore are closely intertwined, and that the Gardens is a national treasure close to the hearts of many Singaporeans.
In 1959, shortly after Singapore achieved self-governance, the Gardens hosted Singapore’s first multicultural concert – the Aneka Ragam Rakyat, or People’s Variety Show. Performers from different ethnic groups shared the stage, in a celebration of our diversity and unity.
Since then, the Gardens has hosted many national events, and people of various backgrounds – Singaporeans and visitors alike – have walked through its grounds. As we were coming to this tent, colleagues were sharing that Dr Tan, when he was a child, used to sit on that Tembusu tree with its symbolic trunk. Now you can’t do that – we need to protect the tree – but I was saying that Yu-Ning and I, also remember sitting on that tree when we were young.
So many of us have fond memories of the Gardens – whether it is family picnics at the lawn, strolls along the Swan Lake or watching performances at the Symphony Lake. Many, many different memories, beautiful memories.
Beyond leisure and recreation, the Gardens has also played a vital role in education and research. In 1875, a system of plant exchange with other botanical institutions worldwide was set up, and a herbarium and library were introduced – the first of their kind in British Malaya. These efforts laid the foundations for the Gardens as a leading centre for tropical plant research.
150th Anniversary of Singapore Herbarium and Library of Botany and Horticulture
This year, the Singapore Herbarium and the Gardens’ Library of Botany and Horticulture celebrate their 150th anniversary.
The Herbarium holds one of the largest collections of tropical plant specimens in Southeast Asia. It is a highly valued scientific asset, referenced by researchers around the world.
To strengthen knowledge-sharing and collaboration globally, the Herbarium will embark on its largest digitalisation effort to date.
The project involves digitising the 800,000 specimens in the Herbarium, with the oldest specimens dating over 230 years old! This work is made possible by generous donations by the community.
Visitors to the Herbarium will also be able to observe the digitalisation process in action through a live viewing gallery, offering what is likely the first-in-the-world experience to see this in a working Herbarium.
At the same time, the Library will also be digitising over 50,000 botanical artworks, historical documents, maps, photographs, and photographic slides over the next few years.
These include artworks from the late 19th century and documents authored by the Gardens' founding Directors.
Both the Herbarium and Library digitalisation projects will start in October, and when completed, will allow researchers and the public globally to access high resolution images and associated data of specimens from the Herbarium.
Conclusion
Before I conclude, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all who have contributed to the success and legacy of the Gardens and shaped it into the cherished space it is today. This includes:
Our former volunteers and our current group of 270 volunteers who run free tours for visitors, help build up our plant information database, support our gardening efforts, and care for our herbarium specimens.
Our partners and donors, whose generous support has helped conserve our invaluable collections and advance the Gardens’ mission of connecting people and plants.
And also the support from the wider community from Singapore and abroad, who have made the Gardens their favourite go-to spot, adding to its spirit and vibrancy with each visit.
Last but certainly not least, our dedicated team from NParks, both the current and previous cohorts of officers, who have given their dedication and passion in making the Gardens a great place for all to enjoy.
Now, as we look to the future, I’d like to invite all of you to visit the Gardens, to walk its paths, and to take in its beauty. I also encourage you to continue to protect and nurture this treasured green space so that the Gardens will continue to retain its high international standing, and generations to come can continue to experience the Gardens and also to create beautiful, precious memories of their own.
Thank you and I wish you a wonderful evening ahead!