Implications of an expanding and intensifying tropical zone for the sustainable development agenda

[Extract] The tropical zone provides ecosystem services of global importance, yet development in the tropics has lagged significantly behind the rest of the world (Sachs 2001). The State of the Tropics 2014 Report launched by Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi demonstrates that while tropical nations have made significant progress across a broad range of development indictors they face a suite of challenges that demand focused attention (State of the Tropics 2014). A regional perspective, driven from within, that recognises the diversity and dynamism of the tropics, but acknowledges and embraces the shared challenges and opportunities the region faces, is essential for promoting long-term sustainable and socially equitable development relevant to tropical regions. In this brief, we highlight some of the more pressing shared issues facing the nations of the tropics