International Day of the Tropics is a holiday that’s observed annually on the 29th of June and raises awareness about the challenges faced by nations in the tropics. The tropics are a part of the Earth that surrounds the equator and are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at 23°26′10.7″ N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at 23°26′10.7″ S.

This area of the world is losing biodiversity at an incredible rate and is simultaneously suffering due to global climate change. This has led to the spread of invasive species and diseases and has left the commercial fishing industry in the region reeling, all of which make this holiday as important now as it has ever been.

The History of International Day of the Tropics

This holiday was created by the United Nations General Assembly on June 14th, 2016. They created this holiday to highlight the unique problems faced by nations in the tropics, and they chose the date for observing this holiday based on the fact that the 29th of June is the anniversary of the State of the Tropics report in 2014. This report was launched by Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from Myanmar.

Important Facts About the Tropics

Below are some facts about the Tropics that we feel our readers are going to appreciate. We feel that this region of the world isn’t understood by people who don’t currently live there, so we decided to round up some facts that could shine a light on the Tropics and let people know why it’s such a special place in the world.

• This region is not only known as the tropical zone but also the torrid zone.
• The Tropics account for 40% of the Earth’s surface area.
• The Tropics are home to about a third of the world’s people.

Observing International Day of the Tropics

This holiday is mainly observed by concerned groups, governments, and conservation organizations in the Tropics. These organizations will offer presentations, exhibitions, seminars, and symposiums on the state of the Tropics and the problems faced in this region of the world.

Of course, the average person doesn’t have to belong to one of these organizations to observe International Day of the Tropics. The average citizen of the world can donate to conservation groups, volunteer their time to fundraise for these groups, or visit a nation located in the Tropics. People can also spread the word about this holiday using the hashtag #InternationalDayOfTheTropics on social media.