Intertropiikan

Intertropiikan is a term used in geographic and development discourse to describe a network or belt of tropical regions and their cross-border interactions. It is not a formal geographic region, and its boundaries vary among authors.

The name combines the sense of inter-, tropik, and -ikan to reflect connections across tropical zones. It appears in scholarly articles, policy reports, and regional planning documents to analyze how tropical ecosystems, economies, and cultures interact.

Geography often situates the concept within the tropical zone near the equator, spanning parts of Africa, the Americas, and Asia. The focus is on corridors and intersections rather than fixed political borders, emphasizing cross-border linkages and regional connectivity more than territorial claims.

Climate and environment associated with the intertropiikan area include rainforest and monsoon regimes, high biodiversity, and complex climate patterns such as ENSO-driven variability and seasonal rainfall. The concept commonly intersects with conservation, land-use planning, and climate-resilience initiatives.

Economy and culture aspects highlight agricultural value chains for crops like cacao, coffee, bananas, and palm oil, as well as trade routes and labor mobility across tropical states. It also covers shared cultural practices, linguistic influences, and regional cooperation in disaster risk reduction and sustainable development.

History and usage notes indicate that the term has gained traction in late 20th and 21st-century analyses as a lens to study tropical interconnections beyond national boundaries, without implying a formal political entity.

See also: Intertropical Convergence Zone; Tropics; Biodiversity hotspots.