International Day of the Tropics

International Day of the Tropics History

The International Day of the Tropics is a global observance initiated by the United Nations to celebrate the tropical regions of the world and raise awareness of the unique challenges and opportunities faced by these areas. This day highlights the importance of the tropics in terms of their ecological, economic, and social significance. The International Day of Tropics encourages international cooperation to address the challenges faced by the tropics and promote sustainable development, at a time when the global community needs to come together to overcome issues such as climate change, underdevelopment, and inequality.

In Canada, the International Day of the Tropics is celebrated as a commemoration of the country's involvement in the establishment of the Tropics Research Centre. The Centre was established in 1946 by the Canadian government in Jamaica to conduct research on the tropical regions of the world.

Today, this day is observed in Canada with various activities such as lectures, seminars, and workshops that aim to improve knowledge and understanding of the tropics. Additionally, it is an opportunity to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of tropical regions, especially in relation to climate change, poverty, and sustainable development. International Day of the Tropics is observed annually on June 29th.

Top 10 Facts for 2026 International Day of the Tropics in Canada

• Marking its 10th anniversary in 2026, the International Day of the Tropics was established by the United Nations to commemorate the launch of the inaugural State of the Tropics Report, which was first presented by Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
• While Canada is known for its cold winters, recent paleontology research found that 48 million years ago the Northwest Territories were home to palm trees and a lush, ice-free ecosystem similar to modern-day subtropics.
• Recent scientific findings published in the journal Annals of Botany reveal that Canada’s subarctic once rivaled the tropics in species richness because the region lacked the intense seasons that currently limit its biodiversity.
• Economic ties between Canada and tropical nations remain vital, as trade with Latin America and the Caribbean grew to approximately $95 billion in 2024, supported by several free-trade agreements.
• More than one million Canadians trace their ancestral roots to tropical regions, and over 30,000 Canadian tourists visit the Turks and Caicos Islands annually, fueling recurring national debates about the islands potentially becoming a domestic tropical destination or 11th province.
• Although the Amazon rainforest is world-renowned for its biodiversity, having roughly 6,000 tree species compared to Canada’s 140, a single square kilometre of the Canadian boreal forest actually stores twice as much carbon as a square kilometre of the Amazon.
• The 2026 observance highlights that while the tropics contain 54% of the world’s renewable water resources, almost half of the region's population remains vulnerable to water stress.
• Canadians interested in the intersection of climate and tropical culture may find the 2025 documentary Apocalypse in the Tropics of particular interest, as it explores the environmental and political shifts within Brazil.
• The concept of the latitudinal biodiversity gradient remains a central focus for Canadian researchers at institutions like Simon Fraser University, who study how the lack of seasonality in the tropics allows for an incredible accumulation of unique species.
• To mark this year's event, many Canadians are engaging with environmental literature such as Climate Hope by David Geselbracht, which examines global conservation efforts from the perspective of both tropical and Canadian ecosystems.

In the News and Trending in Canada for International Day of the Tropics

Top things to do in Canada for this observance

• Read a first-hand account about Carmen Rodríguez and her family's efforts to preserve Colombia's tropical dry forest.
• Browse the 2020 report on the state of the tropics. It covers a wide variety of topics including the environment, human impact, and the application of science and technology.
• Visit the Bloedel Conservatory in Vancouver, which has a tropical rainforest environment with exotic plants and birds.
• See the tropical exhibits at the Biodôme in Montreal, which includes a replica of a South American rainforest.