The 2004 global image sadly shows that the lack of access to clean water remains a burden for the poorest countries, preventing them accelerating their development. Essentially handicapping most sub-Saharan African countries, the map shows some curious trends, such as Romania, which remains far behind all other European countries.

Predicted from multiple environmental factors.

Oil palm plantations depend on the microclimate conditions generated by nearby forests, and the rivers emanating from orangutan habitat. Not all plantations concessions on the map have been cleared and planted yet. The majority of concessions are oil palm, but the map also contains rubber and other plantation crops. The establishment of many of these plantations has resulted in significant losses in orangutan habitat, since they have been created...