ID :
53832
Sun, 04/05/2009 - 08:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/53832
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SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS CELEBRATES 150TH ANNIVERSARY By Zakaria Abdul Wahab
SINGAPORE, April 4 (Bernama) -- The Singapore Botanic Gardens which seeded the rubber revolution in Southeast Asia and contributed to the economic boom in the region over 100 years ago, Friday celebrated its 150th birthday.
The celebration also coincided with that of the United Kingdom's Royal
Botanic Gardens at Kew, popularly known as the Kew Gardens which celebrates its
250th anniversary this year.
Singapore's National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan launched a year-long
programme to mark the anniversaries of the two historical botanic gardens
located at the opposite end of the globe.
The Singapore Botanic Gardens was established in 1859 as an institution for
botanical and horticultural research and education, and today it is widely
regarded as a leading centre for research and conservation.
The histories of both gardens began since the 19th century, during which
botanists and horticulturists trained at Kew Gardens were deployed to administer
the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
In 1877, Kew Gardens presented Singapore Botanic Gardens with 22 rubber
seedlings that later on, led to the growth of the rubber production industry in
Southeast Asia.
Mah said after Singapore gained independence, the ties between Botanic
Gardens and Kew Gardens continued to grow.
"We still actively exchange plants, scientific knowledge and experiences in
managing these two world-renowned gardens," he said.
Both gardens celebrated their friendship and anniversaries with a
simultaneous tree-planting ceremony on their respective grounds Friday.
Among the year-long programmes are, designing and building a permanent
garden by local students, and a mass wedding involving 150 couples in the
Botanic Gardens later in the year.
-- BERNAMA
The celebration also coincided with that of the United Kingdom's Royal
Botanic Gardens at Kew, popularly known as the Kew Gardens which celebrates its
250th anniversary this year.
Singapore's National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan launched a year-long
programme to mark the anniversaries of the two historical botanic gardens
located at the opposite end of the globe.
The Singapore Botanic Gardens was established in 1859 as an institution for
botanical and horticultural research and education, and today it is widely
regarded as a leading centre for research and conservation.
The histories of both gardens began since the 19th century, during which
botanists and horticulturists trained at Kew Gardens were deployed to administer
the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
In 1877, Kew Gardens presented Singapore Botanic Gardens with 22 rubber
seedlings that later on, led to the growth of the rubber production industry in
Southeast Asia.
Mah said after Singapore gained independence, the ties between Botanic
Gardens and Kew Gardens continued to grow.
"We still actively exchange plants, scientific knowledge and experiences in
managing these two world-renowned gardens," he said.
Both gardens celebrated their friendship and anniversaries with a
simultaneous tree-planting ceremony on their respective grounds Friday.
Among the year-long programmes are, designing and building a permanent
garden by local students, and a mass wedding involving 150 couples in the
Botanic Gardens later in the year.
-- BERNAMA
