International Day of the Tropics 2023: Learn more about the beauty and the issues of the tropical areas

Every year, people all over the globe observe the International Day of the Tropics on the 29^th of June to raise awareness of the issues faced by tropical areas. In addition to this, the day also highlights the beauty and importance of tropical areas for our ecosystem. Tropical nations have made notable progress over the decades but still face a variety of challenges that demand focused attention and the International Day of the Tropics provides the perfect opportunity to drive this focus. The day was established by the United Nations in 2016 as a day of global observance. This article provides major details related to International Day of the Tropics 2023 including its history, significance, celebration, facts, etc.

International Day of the Tropics 2023 Overview

International Day of the Tropics Upcoming Events

Below mentioned are the upcoming dates for International Day of the Tropics for the upcoming 5 years.

Significance of International Day of the Tropics

The International Day of the Tropics celebrates the diversity of the tropics and at the same time also highlights the challenges that the tropical areas face. The day provides an opportunity to acknowledge the diversity and potential of the region and address the problem by sharing tropical stories and expertise. The main objective of the day is to raise awareness of the specific problems of tropical areas and to underline the important role that countries in the tropics play in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

History of International Day of the Tropics

On June 29, 2014, after the culmination of a collaboration between twelve leading tropical research institutions, the inaugural State of the Tropics Report was launched. The report provided a unique perspective on this increasingly important region, the problems faced by them, and the need to find their solutions.

In 2016, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/70/267 to celebrate the anniversary of the report’s launch and declared 29 June of each year to be celebrated as the International Day of the Tropics. The first International Day of the Tropics was observed in the year in 2016 and has been observed every year since then.

Check other Important Days in June 2023

Observation of International Day of the Tropics 2023

Many events focused on the problems of tropical areas and finding solutions for those problems are organized on the occasion of International Day of the Tropics. Be a part of such events and after being aware of the conditions of the tropics, spread this awareness among other people. If you are in the mood for a vacation, you can also celebrate the day in the tropics, learning the situation there up close. You can also spend the day watching movies and documentaries based on tropical areas.

Facts about the Tropics

Check out some important facts about the tropical region on this International Day of the Tropics:

1. The major challenges faced by tropical regions include climate change, deforestation, logging, urbanization, and demographic changes.
2. The tropics cover 36% of Earth’s landmass and around 40% of the world’s population.
3. The tropics are normally warm all over the year, with an average temperature between 25 to 28 degrees Celsius.
4. There are only two major tropical seasons, the wet season and the dry season.
5. A majority of the extremely poor population (around 85%) live in tropical countries.
6. 95% of the world’s mangrove forests by area and 99% by species are found in tropical areas.
7. Biodiversity is greater in the tropics than the rest of the world and so is the loss of biodiversity.
8. A majority of the population in the tropics still do not have adequate access to clean water sources, improved sanitation facilities, or even proper electricity.
9. Diseases such as HIV, malaria, and TB are more prevalent in the tropics.
10. The word “tropic” comes from the Ancient Greek word tropē, which means “to turn” or “change direction”.

Frequently Asked Questions