June 29 marks the International Day of the Tropics, designated by the United Nations to celebrate the diversity of tropical regions while raising awareness of the opportunities and challenges they share.Covering about 40% of Earth's surface, the Tropics are home to roughly 80% of the world's biodiversity, making them indispensable to global ecological health.Tropical rainforests, mangroves, coral reefs and wetlands are among the defining ecosyst…