The burgeoning human population has placed unprecedented demands on farmland, forests, and other resources, changing the continents' green skins of vegetation, as well as the interactions between atmosphere, land, oceans, and living organisms that sustain life on earth. This map shows these interactions and pinpoints growing threats.
National Geographic is a renowned authority in cartography. For 120 years the Society's maps have helped spread geographic knowledge around the globe. A vast database allows National Geographic to combine the latest data gained by space-age technology with innovative digital mapping techniques to create state-of-the-art political, physical, and thematic maps. The Society's meticulous research and attention to detail have established a standard of achievement that is unparalleled.
