The United Nations (UN) International Day of the Tropics is annually observed across the globe on 29 June to raise awareness about specific challenges faced by tropical areas, highlight the global implications of issues affecting the tropical zone, and emphasise the role of tropical countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- This Day aims to celebrate the diversity and potential of tropical regions and provides a platform to share tropical stories and expertise and acknowledge plant diversity and evolution.
Background:
i.On 14 June 2016, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/70/267, proclaiming 29 June of every year as the International Day of the Tropics.
ii.The 1st ever International Day of the Tropics was observed on 29 June 2017.
Why 29 June?
i.The day 29 June marks the anniversary of the launch of the inaugural State of the Tropics Report in 2014, by a collaboration of 12 leading tropical research institutions.
ii.Nobel Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, launched the State of the Tropics’ inaugural report in Yangon, Myanmar (Burma).
Note: Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 “for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights.”
What are Tropics?
i.The tropics are the most diverse region on Earth, lying roughly in the middle of the globe, and are home to an extraordinary diversity of plant and animal species.
ii.It is roughly defined as the area between the latitude lines of the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° North of the Equator) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° South of the Equator).
iii.The tropics are crucial for global biodiversity, climate regulation, human populations, ecosystem health, medical research, and food security.
iv.The tropics include the Equator and parts of North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
About Tropical Zone:
i.The tropical, or Torrid Zone, lies near the Equator and is more exposed to the Sun and is typically warm with minimal seasonal temperature changes, averaging 25-28°C (Celsius) (77-82°F (Fahrenheit)).
ii.The different types of tropical climates are classified as Tropical Rainforest or Equatorial (Af), Tropical Monsoon (Am), and Tropical Wet and Dry or Savannah (Aw/As).
iii.The rainfall patterns of this region are:
- High rainfall in moist inner regions near the equator; and
- Rainfall seasonality increases with distance from the equator.
Key Facts:
i.The Tropics account for 40% of the world’s total surface area and are home to approximately 80% of the world’s biodiversity.
ii.The Tropics host nearly 95% of the world’s mangrove forests by area and 99% of mangrove species.
iii.The Tropics possess 54% of the world’s renewable water resources.
- Despite this abundance, nearly half the population in the Tropics faces water stress.
iv.The Tropics are home to a greater biodiversity. However, the rate of biodiversity loss is also higher in the Tropics than in the rest of the world.
Challenges in Tropical Regions:
i.The tropical region faces several challenges such as climate change, logging, deforestation, urbanisation, and demographic changes, requiring targeted attention to achieve SDGs.
ii.By 2050, the Tropics will host most of the world’s population and two-thirds of its children said by the UN.
- Higher poverty levels result in more people experiencing undernourishment in the Tropics than in other regions.
- The proportion of the urban population living in slum conditions is higher in the Tropics compared to the rest of the world.
